League form to dictate semi-finals in Pick n Pay WSL2?

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](https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialBokTube).

**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

The second half was all Griffons though. They scored three unanswered tries for a 31-21 lead. Mtshweni closed the gap to 31-28 with a try that Tinoota converted. 

A crucial call for Griffons, to kick for poles when awarded a penalty, proved the difference in the end as scrumhalf Pinkie Touto's kick was successful and edged them into a 34-28 lead. Mtshweni then scored her third, but her team came up short with the missed conversion.

Griquas scored 46 points in the second half of their match against the visiting Limpopo for a massive 73-15 win, their first of the season. In all, they scored 12 tries, with wing Maserati Bangaza bagging four and prop Nicole van Wyk getting a rare hat-trick.  

Bangaza opened the scoring four minutes in and Van Wyk dotted down five minutes later. Another try, by centre Jennielee van Nel, had the home side cruising at 15-0 after 11 minutes. Limpopo recovered slightly, with Seetja Mmotong getting a try, before Bangaza added a second for a 27-5 halftime lead. 

Then followed the 30-minutes of rugby the Suzuki Park crowd had seen from the Griquas Women in recent  times. 

They scored at regular intervals to stack up their biggest score in a while. Limpopo did score the last try of the match for some consolation, but their season now seems to be heading to a disaster after three consecutive defeats.

**Scorers:** 

**Leopards Women 22 (15), Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women 44 (34)**
**Leopards** - Tries: Portia Mariquele, Onie Sihlobo, Amzolele Gqola. Conversions: Gqola (2). Penalty goal: Gqola.
**Pumas** - Tries: Megan Guambe (2), Pauline Sianga (3), Alicia Mahlalela (2), Jibrine Dube. Conversions: Mahlalela (2).

**AVBOB Griquas Women 73 (27), Limpopo Blue Bulls Women 15 (5)**
**Griquas** - Tries: Nicole van Wyk (3), Siziphiwe Dubulamanzi, Donishea Cloete, Maserati Bangaza (4), Tyrell Wilson, Jennielee Van Nel, Forgiveness Mashele (2). Conversions: Jean-Marie Owies, Van Nel (3).
**Limpopo** - Tries: Seetja Mmotong, Mapula Matsimela, Amaka Mabosi.

**Valke Women 33 (21), Griffons Women 34 (12)**
**Valke** - Tries: Aviva Kaduka, Lucia Yalezwa Xosana, Noyulanda Mtshweni (3). Conversions: Kaduka (3), Evidence Tinoota.
**Griffons** - Tries: Tshepiso Mantelile, Thato Rantai (2), Mmadjadji Mohalali, Line Viviers. Conversions: Pinkie Touto (3). Penalty goal: Touto.

Source: Original report at SA Rugby.