The Bulls Daisies have been given a lift by the return of Ayanda Malinga ahead of their trip to Ceres for round twelve of the 2023 Women’s Premier Division competition. A ring finger fracture suffered while playing against the Sharks has kept the 25-year-old out of action since late May, but she is now primed to get her first run off the bench this Saturday in Boland.

Hayden Groepes - Bulls Daisies head coach - has shuffled twelve players across his matchday 23 that will take on the Boland Dames at the Ceres Rugby Club, on Saturday 29 July 2023, with kick-off set for 14h15pm. Only six of the twelve changes are new personnel while the rest are standard rotational changes as the side keeps an eye on playoffs and player welfare.

“We continue with our player load management, which helps us keep everyone fit and healthy but also give everyone in the squad game time throughout the season because these players have trained hard since the start of the season and so it is crucial that everyone has almost the same game time. The beauty of it all is that no matter the changes, they have remained humbled and worked harder and harder to keep the results consistent” Gropes said.

On the return of Malinga, the Daisies mentor said: “It is great to have her back with us and it will be even better to see her get a run on Saturday. She has worked hard during her recovery period and has been a solid support voice even when she was out after her operation, so her run on Saturday will be enjoyed by all of us in the team.”

The Tshwane-based ladies will have Lebogang Ralebona (loose-head prop), Boitumelo Phakane (hooker) and Rachelle du Plessis (tight-head prop) steering the forward pack from the front. Vainah Ubisi gets a start and will pair up with Sinelitha Noxeke at lock. Skipper, Lusanda Dumke (blindside) and Lerato Makua (openside) will bring reinforcement from the second row, with Kayla de Vries bringing order and stability eight.

Scrum-half, Unam Tose and fly-half, Byhandre Dolf will link the forwards with the backs where Maria Tshiremba starts at left wing with Simamkele Namba on the right. Shiniqwa Lamprecht (inside) and Jacomina Cilliers (outside) combine as at centre with Libbie Janse van Rensburg at fullback.

GBULLS DAISIES STARTING XV: 1. Lebogang Ralebona, 2. Boitumelo Phakane, 3. Rachelle du Plessis, 4. Vainah Ubisi, 5. Sinelitha Noxeke, 6. Lusanda Dumke (c), 7. Lerato Makua, 8. Kayla de Vries, 9. Unam Tose, 10. Byhandre Dolf, 11. Maria Tshiremba, 12. Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 13. Jacomina Cilliers, 14. Simamkele Namba, 15. Libbie Janse van Rensburg (vc)

BULLS DAISIES IMPACT SQUAD: 16. Micke Gunter, 17. Asithandile Ntoyanto, 18. Yonela Ngxingolo, 19. Anathi Qolo, 20. Rights Mkhari, 21. Rumandi Potgieter, 22. Unathi Mali, 23. Ayanda Malinga

MANAGEMENT: Hayden Groepes - Head Coach, Mandisa Williams - Assistant Coach, Dr. Sbu Ntuli - Team Doctor, Karabo Morokane - Physiotherapist, Lenel Allison - Physiotherapist, Tayla Chidrawi - Strength & Conditioning, Nokuthula Nene - Technical Analyst, Luyolo Tandani - Logistic Manager, Swazi Bisset - Partnerships Manager, Thando Manana - Women’s High-Performance Manager