Scorching conditions are expected in the Western Cape this weekend and the on-field action will be just as hot when the two top sides on the Women’s Premier Division log, the Sanlam Boland Dames and the Bulls Daisies, clash in Wellington on Saturday.
The heat will also play a role in Cape Town, where DHL Western Province will host the other undefeated side in the tournament, the Border Ladies, at Hamilton Rugby Football Club in Green Point.
The Sharks Women travel inland to Pietermaritzburg for the first time in a while to face EP Queens, while Free State Women await the Golden Lions Women in Bloemfontein, with both sides desperate for a first win this season.
The Daisies have scored 159 points and 26 tries in their opening two matches and only conceded a solitary try, a clear indication of their dominance thus far.
But the Dames, with 18 tries and 116 points, are the only other side to have reached double figures in the try scoring stakes and they have only conceded 25 points.
The defending champions from Pretoria will be without the influential Lusanda Dumke at flanker but they have the luxury of Springbok Women’s back Libbie Janse van Rensburg on the bench. The SA Rugby Women's Player of the Year for 2023 is back from injury and will most likely play a significant role in the match.
Boland's 8/9 axis of Aseza Hele (five tries) and Felicia Jacobs (four tries) will keep the Daisies on their toes but their real strike force is with outside backs Nomawethu Mabenge and Maceala Samboya.
Western Province will be hurting following their mauling by the Daisies in Pretoria last week and will find the Border Ladies in good form, following two wins from two starts.
The Eastern Cape side will be without their hard-running captain, Aphiwe Ngwevu and a lot will depend on her fellow international centre, Eloise Webb, to direct the Border attack.
The Capetonians have some of the most exciting youngsters in the country donning the blue and white hoops but as they learned last weekend, the hard work must be done first.
WP are without Test prop Azisa Mkiva but the inclusion of former Springbok Women’s flyhalf Kirsten Conrad in the No 10 jersey, while Shaunique Hess is also back at centre, indicate their desire to play some spectacular attacking rugby.
Matches between these two sides have been close in recent seasons and the same can be expected this time around.
The Sharks Women have not played at the Peter Booysen Sports Ground in a while but it should be a happy return against the EP Queens, who are struggling to find form and confidence in their 2025 campaign.
The Sharks’ front row of Vanessa Holmes, Ayanda Zuma and Amanda Ndhlovu will be very influential to provide their international halfbacks, Tayla Kinsey and Mary Zulu, with enough front foot ball and a platform to dominate this match.
The battle in Bloem will be real. The hosts have improved in every round as the players get use to new coach Anchin Klein’s tenure and will be ready to entertain their faithful supporters at Toyota Stadium. Versatile Bernice Strydom is playing at No 8 this weekend and Sikholiwe Mdletshe is at fullback and both these capped players will test the Lions’ defence.
The visitors will look at their Springbok Women players, Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Aliyah Thogna-Njamen and Rumandi Potgieter, for their international experience and class to bring this one home.
Fixtures
DHL Western Province v Border Ladies @ Hamilton RFC, Cape Town - Saturday (11.30am)
Referee: Luvuyo Maceba
Sharks Women v EP Queens @ Peter Booysen Sports Ground, Pietermaritzburg - Saturday (12pm)
Referee: Siya Mhana
Sanlam Boland Dames v Bulls Daisies @ Boland Rugby Stadium, Wellington - Saturday (12.30pm)
Referee: Angie Bezuidenhout
Livestream: Official Springbok YouTube
Free State Women v Golden Lions Women @ Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein - Saturday (2pm)
Referee: Blessing Sibande
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