North-South derby takes centre stage in Women's Premier Division

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PREVIEW ROUND TWO: In a replay of last season's Women's Premier Division Final in Pretoria, the title holders Bulls Daisies host the Western Province Women in Round Two at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The match promises to be an enticing affair in Pretoria.

The three other matches – in Durban, Wellington and East London – also promise to deliver a feast of rugby as the teams hit their stride in the new season.

The Sharks Women welcome Cheetahs Queens to Durban for their first home game of 2025, while Boland Dames and Border Ladies, who both won at home in round one, will be looking to do so again against the EP Queens and Golden Lions Women.

The Daisies and their Cape Town opponents scored 23 of the 40 tries in last weekend's opening round of the competition and clearly have their attacking play working already, but it is most likely the best defence that will determine who will prevail at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Province is the only team who have managed to beat the Daisies in the last two seasons, so they will have some confidence and knowledge on how to get the best of the home side.

The Bulls Daisies head coach Hayden Groepes has named 12 Test players in his starting line-up and there are two more Springbok Women on the bench, while the Capetonians boast six.

The battle up front will be highly significant in this clash, with Nolusindiso Booi, Nomsa Mokwai, Azisa Mkiva and Luchell Hanekom boosting the WP pack, with the lock pairing of Booi and Mokwai – who will make their first appearance this season – potentially holding the key for the visitors.

The Capetonians' backline is exciting to say the least and they will score some tries, but their challenge will be to keep the hard-running Chumisa Qawe and Zintle Mpupha at bay in the midfield. Add the open field running of loose forwards Sizo Solontsi and Lusanda Dumke, the Daisies' captain, and this promises to be a fantastic match to watch.

"We know that Province have threats all over the field, whether in the backline or the forwards," Groepes told Rugby365. 

"However our process is to nullify their strengths and take our opportunities that arise.

"We want to try to make sure that we apply a lot of pressure.

"A big focus for us this week was that we have to get stronger and faster form game one to game two."

The coach added: "We are excited to play our first home game at Loftus Versfeld. We built it up and it certainly going to be a good clash.

"We had some massive support from the women's club teams in the Province and would like to call out the clubs and fans to support the Daisies."

Cheetahs out to eat fin in Durban

The Free State side will bring an energetic attitude on attack and some early points could just get them going. They are finding their feet under new coach Anchin Klein, but such is his ability to bring the best out of his players, that it will be sooner rather than later that success will happen on the scoreboard.

"Traveling to Durban is always a challenge," Klein revealed to Rugby365.

"The Sharks ladies have done well and have improved over the years.
"Tey have a new coach Jason Hector. He comes in with international experience, so they will be a tough unit especially when it comes to scrum time and also the defence.

"I know Jason is a defence specialist and they going to make it very difficult for our attack to break the defence line."

The coach added his team is eager to cause an upset in Durban.

"Like they said in Durban fear the fin, however, the Cheetahs want to eat the fin," Klein added with a smile.

The Golden Lions Women showed glimpses of what they are capable of against Boland last weekend, but some weaknesses were exposed as well, something Border will be well aware of when they face them in East London.

The Johannesburgers have a real gem in former Junior Springbok Women wing Thobile Msizazwe, who scored two well-taken tries last weekend, but giving her enough ball in space could be an issue.

Border's international midfield pairing of Aphiwe Ngwevu and Eloise Webb ranks amongst the best in the Premier Division and the home side will be wise to provide them with possession all day. Ngwevu's hard running and Webb's soft hands and guile will test the visitors.

Boland Dames will be looking for another payday in Wellington where they host the EP Queens. The Bolanders pumped the Lions last weekend and will be full of confidence. Aiding their effort is the stellar form of the likes of Aseza Hele, Nomawethu Mabenge and Maceala Samboya, who shows international class on provincial level.

The EP Queens will bring a fighting spirit second to none with them, but that alone will not be enough to beat the likes of the Dames, who finished third on the log last year. They will have to value their ball possession and sort out their maul defence if they want to halt Boland's onslaught.

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Round Two fixtures:

Sharks Women v Cheetahs Queens

Bulls Daisies v Western Province

Boland Dames v EP Queens

Border Ladies v Golden Lions Women

*Additional Source: SA Rugby

*Picture credit: WP Rugby