Daisies go for four consecutive, Dames for first ever title in Pick n Pay WSL final

The two top teams in the Pick n Pay Women's Super League will fight it out for the ultimate glory at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday when the Izusu Bulls Daisies will host the Sanlam Boland Dames in the 2026 final.

The Daisies are looking for a fourth consecutive title, while the Dames are eyeing the Premier Division silverware for the first time in a match that promises to dazzle and entertain.

Not only are both finalists well-rounded teams who can transition from attack to defence or the other way around in no time, some of the premier players in the country will be in action in Pretoria come Saturday.

The home side are laden with Test caps in almost all positions, while the Dames have considerably fewer internationals in their team but those who have represented the Springbok Women in the past, did so outstandingly.

The two sides met earlier in the tournament, in a Round Three clash just over a month ago, at the same venue.

That match was halted just after the half-time mark due to lightning strikes in the Loftus Versveld precinct but alarmingly for Boland, the Daisies were already 47-8 ahead at the time, having scored seven tries to one when play was halted.

Fair to say, Boland Dames have improved in leaps and bounds since then, with the return to action of Eloise Webb at flyhalf a major contibuting factor, as she opened up the dangerous strike runners in the Dames backline, most notably Rufaro Tagarira, with the Zimbabwean Test player creating havoc and momentum in the midfield.

They also found a reliable goal kicker in the shape of Chloe Adams. And then of course there is Aseza Hele, one of the most destructive ball-carriers in the tournament, country and the world.

The Daisies, with their abundance of class all over the squad, deserves credit for not dropping their standards when they faced weaker opposition. Instead, they focused on and fine-tuned their team play, fundamentals and allowed enough freedom to their Test players to express their skill set, hence the commanding performances of players such as Sizophila Solontsi, Chuma Qawe and Vainah Ubisi and the return to action of Zintle Mpupha and Libbie Janse van Rensburg.

They have won their seven league matches with an average score of 66-7 and scored 73 tries at an average of 10 per match. The Dames have an average score of 31-23 with 35 tries at five per match.

The pundits and the statisticians will tell you only one team can win this. They are probably right but spectators, viewers and fans can rest assured that Boland will make a game of this. If that happens, everyone will be in for a highly entertaining and interesting 80 minutes with women’s rugby the real winner.

Selected stats

Leading points scorers 2026

86 Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies)

55 Thobile Msizazwe (Bulls Daisies)

45 Anelca Hess (Free State Women)

Leading try scorers 2026

11 Thobile Msizazwe (Bulls Daisies)

8 Voice Ndou (DHL Western Province)

7 Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daises)

Izusu Bulls Daisies v Sanlam Boland Dames - Saturday @ Loftus Versfeld (11am)

Referee: Giana Viljoen

Assistant referees: Siyanda Pikoli, Chante Olivier

Broadcast: SuperSport Variety 1 (channel 206)

Isuzu Bulls Daisies starting XV: 15 Chuma Qawe, 14 Shaunique Alexander, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Naima Hlatswayo, 11 Thobile Msizazwe; 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Unam Tose; 8 Sophy Mashapa, 7 Anathi Qolo (capt), 6 Sizophila Solontsi; 5 Vainah Ubisi, 4 Dineo Ndhlovu; 3 Azisa Mkiva, 2 Doreen Mkhabele, 1 Yonela Ngxingolo. Replacements: 16 Xolelwa Diliza, 17 Sanelisiwe Charlie, 18 Lebogang Ralebona, 19 Sinelitha Noxeke, 20 Faith Tshauke, 21 Camelitha Malone, 22 Jakkie Cilliers, 23 Noxolo Magasela.

Sanlam Boland Dames starting XV: 15 Chloe Adams, 14 Arthea King, 13 Veroeshka Grain, 12 Rufaro Tagarira, 11 Sinalo Ziqwayi; 10 Eloise Webb, 9 Felecia Jacobs; 8 Aseza Hele (capt), 7 Ropha Madyah, 6 Buhle Sonamzi; 5 Thandi Masuku, 4 Mihlali Mgweba; 3 Onako Jita, 2 Keishia Stuurman, 1 Yola Lumko. Replacements: 16 Maxene Valentine, 17 Zena Swart, 18 Carolishia Fisher, 19 Nompumelelo Mathe, 20 Funeka (TJ) Ngxowa, 21 Zintle Nonkasana,22 Luleka Tyibilika, 23 Tereska Kabuka.