It is semi-final time in the Pick n Pay Women Super League 2 with two much-anticipated clashes awaiting supporters in Nelspruit and Kimberley, where the Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women and AVBOB Griquas Women will host the Griffons Women and SWD Eagirls.
On paper, the host teams should have the upper hand. Rugby is not played on paper though, but on the grass pitches at Mbombela Stadium and Suzuki Stadium on Saturday, with two tight matches anticipated.
The undefeated defending champion Pumas have been hot and were unstoppable in the league, while Griquas have found a fortress in Suzuki Stadium in recent weeks, but whether that mentality will hold in the cut-throat environment of a knock-out match remains to be seen.
The team from Mpumalanga’s performances this season showed why they won the competition last year. They found a style of play that brings out the best in their squad, with their backline seemingly unstoppable once they get going.
Top of the class is 20-year-old wing Megan Guambe, who has scored 10 tries already this season after dotting down eight times in seven matches last year, and those attending the match in Nelspruit could witness a future star.
A Griffons win seems unlikely, given the previous result between the two sides, when the Pumas won 63-13 in Welkom in round two on 11 July. Since then, the Welkom women have improved a lot as coach Shamila Louw's plans took hold, but it will require a huge turnaround in fortunes for the visitors to take this one.
The match between AVBOB Griquas and the SWD Eagirls will be much closer. In fact, the two sides met in round six two weeks ago in Groot-Brakrivier, where the visitors overhauled their hosts to win 29-26. The Eagirls were leading 19-0 at one stage, but five second-half tries by the visitors stunned the Garden Route faithful.
The Eagirls have the promising Nonkosi Ngema in their midst, with the Junior Springbok Women lock showing why she has competed on the international stage already, but the big threats for the visitors will be wing Maserati Bangaza and flyhalf Juanine Jacobs, who dictates play with good tactical kicking.
Expect SWD’s Antoneica Hannies to have a huge say in the match. She has converted 16 tries, and if she packs her kicking boots, that could be a crucial factor in this match.
Both matches will be streamed live on the SA Rugby YouTube channel.
Match details:
Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women v Griffons Women
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Date: Saturday 22 August
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Chante Olivier
Livestream: YouTube
AVBOB Griquas Women v SWD Eagirls
Venue: Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley
Date: Saturday 22 August
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Siyanda Pikoli
Livestream: YouTube