The Currie Cup gets going this weekend and we take a look at the four matches from a betting angle.
Punters and bookmakers are both stumbling into Week 1 of the Currie Cup totally unsure of what lies ahead. A good indication of this is always when the bookmakers don’t price up on the Outright Markets, suggesting they have no strong feelings as to how this will play out.
We will take a look at the betting of the 4 matches taking place, but none of the selections in the opening week are done with a lot of confidence.
Before we get started, World Sports Betting are running a Handicap Multiple Promotion in the Currie Cup this week. If you take a multiple on the handicaps in all 4 matches and all your selections win and score 4 tries or more (very likely in the Currie Cup) they will double your pay out in Free Bet Vouchers. T&Cs apply
FRIDAY
Griquas v Cheetahs – Click here to bet
This is an age-old rivalry with Kimberley and Bloem a couple of hours driving distance apart. Both of these sides have been starved of competitor action in recent weeks although the Cheetahs were involved in the Challenge Cup in Europe at the end of 2022. It is this that I suspect may give them an edge in this encounter and I am going for them to win the match by two points or more.
Handicap: Griquas +0.5
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Cheetahs -1.5 at 19/20
SATURDAY
Sharks v Griffons – Click here to bet
The Griffons are very much an unknown quantity as they haven't played Currie Cup rugby for many a year. They travel to the Sharks who are of course busy on multiple fronts in Europe with the Champions Cup and URC.
At the time of writing World Sports Betting have the Sharks 13.5 point favourites and I am going to have a sneaky stab for the Griffons to beat the handicap.
Handicap: Sharks -13.5
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Griffons +13.5 at 10/11
Golden Lions v Western Province – Click here to bet
The Lions finished bottom of the Currie Cup table in 2022 only winning 2 of 12 matches. Things weren’t going well for them on the URC front either, but they have bounced back with successive victories over Glasgow at home and the Bulls on the road.
Western Province feed into the Stormers in the URC and the Champions Cup competitions and they are going very well in that area. This of course will be a totally different side that takes the field. They also battled in 2022 winning just 3 of 12 matches.
I just have the feeling that Western Province have more depth in their rugby at the moment and that has me leaning towards an away win.
Handicap: Lions +0.5
Suggested Bet: Western Province win at 9/10
SUNDAY
Blue Bulls v Pumas – Click here to bet
The Bulls are struggling in the URC at the moment and morale in the camp seems low and it remains to be seen if that will filter down into the Currie Cup team.
The Pumas are the defending Currie Cup Champions having beaten the Griquas in the final last year and they face a Bulls side that finished 2nd on the table winning 9 of 12 matches only to get beaten by 11 points at home to the Griquas in the semi-final.
The Pumas haven't had much competitive action of late, but against a depleted Bulls side they are value to win the game.
Handicap: Bulls -4.5
Suggested Bet: Pumas win at 18/10
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
