Homecoming for Bok in Women's Super League

PREVIEW, ROUND TWO: Babalwa Latsha, the most capped prop in the women’s game in South Africa, will return to her roots on Saturday when she runs out for Western Province in the second round of the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1, while a former Scotland junior captain will also experience top-flight domestic rugby.

Latsha returns to the provincial scene after two years with Harlequins Women, a move that significantly upped her status in the game, as she delivered big time for the London club.

The Springbok Women’s tighthead prop, capped 40 times for South Africa, also enjoyed a stellar Women’s Rugby World Cup in England last year, and her return will no doubt boost the home side’s performance and perk up interest in the tournament, which started dramatically last weekend.

First-round winners at home, Boland Dames and Western Province, will play hosts in round two as well, welcoming Border Ladies to Wellington and Golden Lions Women to Bellville, respectively.

There will be first home games for the Sharks Women in Durban, where they will welcome the defending champions, the Bulls Daisies, while the Free State Women host the EP Queens in a much-anticipated match in Bloemfontein.

For WP, already flying high after their commanding win over the Sharks Women in round one, Latsha’s return will be massive and looks set to give coach Jongi Nokwe a second win in the competition. Nokwe made a couple of tweaks to his side, with Insaaf Levy starting at scrumhalf and another Bok Women star, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, packing down at lock from last weekend’s team.

Latsha’s re-introduction to the provincial game will have some bite as her RWC colleague Xoliswa Khuzwayo will be waiting at the very first scrum. The Lions prop is one of four capped players in the visiting side’s starting fifteen.

Lions coach Timmy Goodwin included young Kristen Cox at flyhalf and if she settles in early, it could spark the attacking instincts of her team. Much will depend on the guidance of her experienced halfback partner, Rumandi Potgieter, and her renowned ability to dictate play with her kicking game.

Boland Dames head coach Thomas Chowles did not tinker too much with his winning combination, but he had to make some injury-enforced changes for the Wellington match-up against Border. The most significant is at tighthead prop, where former age group flanker Zena Swart will start, while TJ Ngxowa runs out at lock.

Swart recently moved to the front ro,w and she will be tested by Border loosehead prop Chuma Delubom, who is in her sixth season of provincial rugby and knows all the dark secrets, with her experience expected to bring some parity in that phase of the game.

The Border Ladies will be determined to rebound from their big defeat last weekend, and the Boland Stadium faithful can expect a lively encounter.

Zenay Jordaan and Bongani Nogilana, co-coaches of the Bulls Daisies, would have stressed the importance of pushing the boundaries for their team. Beating Border 100-0, like they did last week, was a magnificent achievement, but they are only in round two, and the best is yet to come for the side that shows several changes from last weekend.

They have six internationals in the starting pack and three on the bench, while a powerful backline includes three RWC stars. Sanelisiwe Charlie swaps places with fellow loosehead international Yonela Ngxingolo, and Ziyanda Ngohlekana replaces Anati Qolo at lock. There will also be a first appearance (off the bench) for Fiona Cooper, a former Scotland U20 captain who joined the Daisies at the start of the season.

The Sharks team came alive in the second half of their match against WP last week after conceding 27 unanswered points early on, and will use that momentum to try to stop the rampant Daisies side. The KwaZulu-Natalians have been boosted by the return of Lindelwa Gwala, and with team captain Tayla Kinsey, in sparkling early-season form, the hosts from the coast should be feeling confident that they can match the Pretoria superstars.

The Free State Women did not quite fulfil their potential in Wellington last weekend, as they left too many opportunities on the field, and coach Aschin Klein would have stressed those points during training this week. They will be without their try-scoring ace Sikholiwe Mdletshe, but they have enough experience all over the squad to deliver on the day.

The EP Queens, though, were the surprise package of the first round, and the way they dismantled the Lions away from home was impressive to say the least. EP coach Deon Jordaan’s troops expressed themselves well, and the attacking instincts of their young flyhalf, Julene Haas, brought the best out of the outside backs.

Haas was part of the SA Rugby U18 Girls squad that played against the Netherlands in December and looked at home in her first outing in the senior ranks.

Saturday, February 21 

Sharks Women v Bulls Daisies
(Hollywoodbets Kings Parks, Durban – Kick-off: 12.00; 10.00 GMT)

Prediction:
Rugby365: Bulls Daisies by 25 points

Sharks Women: TBC

Bulls Daisies: 15 Chuma Qawe, 14 Shaunique Alexander, 13 Jakkie Cilliers, 12 Zintle Mpupha, 11 Thobile Mzizaswe, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Camelitha Malone, 8 Sophy Mashapa, 7 Sinelitha Noxeke, 6 Sizophila Solontsi, 5 Ziyanda Ngohlekana, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Azisa Mkiva, 2 Xolelwa Siliza, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie.
Replacements: 16 Karobo Lebotsa, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Lebogang Ralebona, 19 Dineo Nahlovu, 20 Fiona Cooper, 21 Mahlatse Nkhumishe, 22 Yandisa Nobanda, 23 Naima Hatshwayo.

Referee: Chante Olivier

Western Province v Golden Lions Women
(Bellville Rugby Club, Cape Town – Kick-off: 13.00; 11.00 GMT)

Prediction:
Rugby365: WP by 10 points

Teams:

Western Province: 15 Donelle Snyders, 14 Alichia Arries, 13 Shaunique Hess, 12 Megan Kannemeyer, 11 Voice Ndou, 10 Elme Kruger, 9 Insaaf Levy, 8 Logan Welman, 7 Anelisiwe Mxabo, 6 Anuschka Groenewald, 5 Nomsa Mokwai, 4 Sinazo Mcatshulwa (captain), 3 Babalwa Latsha, 2 Luchell Hanekom, 1 Nomkhitha Chuba.
Replacements: 16 Roseline Botes, 17 Anelisa Ndamase, 18 Thandile Mazwi, 19 Arzydia Komar, 20 Zandiswa Xozwa, 21 Alicia Willemse, 22 Doney Filies, Raeeqah Hendricks

Golden Lions: 15 Siphumelele Mdlalose, 14 Elmarie Vusieka, 13 Siyonela Macamba, 12 Masingita Simango, 11 Sarah Mokwebo, 10 Kristen Cox, 9 Rumandi Potgieter (captain), 8 Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen, 7 Catha Jacobs, 6 Sinalo Honono, 5 Ntsako Mbombi, 4 Alutha Ngcezula, 3 Noluthando Khumalo, 2 Kamogelo Thloloe, 1 Xoliswa Khuzwayo.
Replacements: 16 Phophi Budzwa, 17 Nikitha Dlabane, 18 Sharon Baloyi, 19 Sindiswa Ngwenya, 20 Provia Mashian, 21 Gabriella Terblance, 22 Nthabiseng Ncalene, 23 Kirsten Eastes

Referee: Siyanda Pikoli

Boland Dames v Border Ladies
(Boland Stadium, Wellington – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction:
Rugby365: Boland by 15 points

Teams:

Boland Dames: TBC

Border Ladies: TBC

Referee: Giana Viljoen

Free State Women v Eastern Province Queens
(Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction:
Rugby365: Eastern Province by 10 points

Free State Women: 15 Vuyelwa Mosala, 14 Angy Lesele, 13 Nomfundo Pampiri, 12 Shannon Pieterse, 11 Owami Mohuli, 10 Juanine Jacobs, 9 Monique Reens, 8 Kamohelo Makoele, 7 Bernice Strydom, 6 Neidine Solomons, 5 Naadiah Motlomelo, 4 Marlene Adams, 3 Anita Tom, 2 Yanga Ndabeni, 1 Nellie Skosana.
Replacements: 16 Mekyla-Chante Bennett, 17 Sebabatsu Muchudi, 18 Fox Nche, 19 Bontle Moroke, 20 Afika Mbengo, 21 Angelique Strydom, 22 Aisha Camara, 23 Lonele Fuzile

Eastern Province Queens:

Referee: Angie Bezuidenhout