Bulls v WP, Women's Final - teams and prediction
03/28/2025 08:04 AM
PREVIEW: It all boils down to this weekend, where one team will be crowned the 2025 Women's Premier Division champion.
After two months of entertaining rugby, the Bulls will host Western Province in the Final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
It is a rugby affair in Pretoria on Saturday, with the Bulls playing Zebre in a 'curtain-raiser' for the Grand Finale.
It will be the third time the two teams go head to head in a Final, with the Bulls triumphant in both previous showdowns.
The Daisies earned hosting rights by finishing on top of the log in a shortened competition in which teams played only a single round.
They dominated proceedings by winning all seven of their matches, scoring 512 points, and only conceding 37.
Province, on the other hand, outplayed Boland last weekend to confirm the second spot on the log, with the Cape side winning six out of seven this season.
The Daisies' dominance is almost surreal.
They have won 35 out of their last 36 matches in the last three seasons, with their only defeat coming against WP in a league fixture last year.
Since that defeat, they have beaten the Cape side in the 2024 Final and earlier this year in their league fixture by 69-0 in the second round of the competition.
There can be no doubt that the Daisies are firm favourites for this clash, but as WP showed when they outplayed Boland last weekend, their determination and the presence of some real game-breakers will always make them a threat.
"It's good to be in another Final," WP head coach Stanley Raubenheimer told Rugby365.
"It was a little bit tough this time around. The match against Boland Dames was challenging. They have had a good season.
"But now we turn our attention to the Final, and we are calm. We're looking forward to the match."
The visitors have been boosted by the availability of BlitzBoks Women's players Leigh Fortuin, Alicia Willemse, and Logan Welman, and the good form of WP captain Shaunique Hess and Bok Women lock Nomsa Mokwai will make them very competitive.
"We could not have Leigh Fortuin for the whole season due to national commitments. But we are glad she and Logan made it to national colours." Raubenheimer stated.
"Happy to have them back, and you can see the growth within the two of them, which also improves our squad."
He added: "We are quite disappointed to lose [captain] Cindy Booi, a player with a lot of experience, calmness, and leadership."
"But Shaunique has stepped up tremendously. I'm proud of how she has led the team, and may it continue."
The coach revealed he is pleased with how his young team has performed during the season.
"Our program is on a different level compared to the Bulls Daisies and Boland Dames, so I'm proud of how the young players have evolved over a couple of seasons.
"There is a lot of work to be done, but the growth is something to look forward to."
He added: "Our plan for the season was to blood young players with a more long-term view, and I think we've succeeded in that.
"We'll go out there and give everything we have and who knows, perhaps it will be third time lucky for us."
The Bulls Daisies and their all-consuming playing style will be a very tough nut to crack.
They have 11 Springbok Women in their starting team and four more playing off the bench, so the host team just needs to maintain their composure in the high-stakes Final, and their class should shine through.
"We find ourselves in this finals week by no stroke of luck but pure hard work and effort, which began last September already," Bulls Daisies head coach Hayden Groepes revealed.
"So this is a good reward for a group of players and management staff who have all bought into one vision and goal, and we are one hard shift away from making that a reality for all of us."
Prediction:
Rugby365:Bulls Daisies by 15 points
Teams:
Bulls: 15 Chuma Qawe, 14 Patience Mokone, 13 Jakkie Cilliers, 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Shaunique Alexander, 10 Byrhandre Dolf (vice-captain), 9 Unam Tose, 8 Faith Tshauke, 7 Lerato Makua, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Anathi Qolo, 4 Ziyanda Ngohlekana, 3 Xolelwa Diliza, 2 Micke Gunter (captain), 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie.
Replacements: 16 Doreen Mkhabele, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Asithandile Ntoyanto, 19 Dineo Ndhlovu, 20 Sophy Mashapa, 21 Camelitha Malone, 22 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 23 Maria Tshiremba.
Western Province: 15 Donëy Filies, 14 Leigh Fortuin, 13 Shaunique Hess (captain), 12 Shaundre Francke, 11 Voice Ndou, 10 Elme Kruger, 9 Lauren Adams, 8 Logan Welman, 7 Anelisiwe Mxabo, 6 Anushka Groenewald, 5 Nomsa Mokwai, 4 Mari Dalhouzie, 3 Azisa Mkiva, 2 Luchell Hanekom, 1 Nomkhita Chuba.
Replacements: 16 Bronishia Hess, 17 Anuckha Ekron, 18 Thandile Mazwi, 19 Arzydia Komar, 20 Zindiswa Xozwa, 21 Lihle Mzimkhulu, 22 Insaaf Levy, 23 Alicia Willemse.
Date: Saturday, March 29
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17:15 (15:15 GMT)
Referee: Luvuyo Maceba
Assistant referees: Angie Bezuidenhout, Siyanda Pikoli
*Additional Source: SA Rugby
