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 DHL 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 as well as perk up interest in the tournament, which started in dramatic fashion last weekend.
First round winners at home, Sanlam Boland Dames and DHL 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 Isuzu Bulls Daisies, while the Free State Women host the EP Queens in a much-anticipated match in Bloemfontein.
For DHL 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 await 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 fly-half, 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.
Sanlam 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 Isuzu Bulls Daisies, would have stressed the importance of keeping pushing the bounderies to 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 a number of 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.
Match information:
Sharks Women v Isuzu Bulls Daisies
Venue: KP2, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Date: Saturday, 21 February
Kick-off: 12h00
Referee: Chante Olivier
DHL Western Province v Golden Lions Women
Venue: Bellville Rugby Club, Cape Town
Date: Saturday, 21 February
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Siyanda Pikoli
Sanlam Boland Dames v Border Ladies
Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington
Date: Saturday, 21 February
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Giana Viljoen
Broadcast: SA Rugby YouTube channel
Free State Women v Eastern Province Queens
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Date: Saturday, 21 February
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Angie Bezuidenhout
Broadcast: SuperSport Schools