There are 3 Currie Cup matches taking place this weekend and we suggest a bet in each of them.
WESTERN PROVINCE v GRIQUAS
Western Province sit 2nd from bottom of the table with just 2 wins in their 10 matches and they are out of playoff contention. They were well beaten by the Golden Lions on the road last time out going down 33-10, but their last home game was a 23-17 win against the Pumas, a match in which they started underdogs.
They face a Griquas side which are very much in playoff contention. Griquas currently sit 3rd on the log, well behind the 2nd place Cheetahs, but 2 points ahead of 4th place Sharks and perhaps more importantly 4 points ahead of the 5th place Pumas.
Griquas have won 5 and lost 5 of their 10 matches this season and last time out they were very impressive in beating the Cheetahs 46-18 in Kimberley and you have to go back to early May for their last home game which was a 48-38 loss to a strong Bulls side at Loftus.
Griquas beat Western Province 22-20 at home in the reverse fixture.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Western Province 29/20
Draw 25/1
Griquas 8/13
Handicap: Western Province +4.5
Suggested Bet: Handicap Griquas (-4.5) at 9/10
Griquas are a team with everything to play for and they are up against the Western Province side consisting of a number of veterans and a few up and coming players with the core of the squad on URC duty. I think the Griquas can win this one by 5 points or more.
FREE STATE CHEETAHS v PUMAS
The Cheetahs are 2nd on the log and can pull within a point of the Bulls if they win this game with a bonus point. They play against a desperate Pumas side that know they probably need victory here if they are to stay in playoff contention.
The Cheetahs were stunned when they were hammered by 28 points away at Griquas, but they had shown what they were capable of at home in the previous match beating the Sharks 44-15.
The Pumas fought hard last week against the Bulls eventually going down 31- 26 at Loftus and prior to that they suffered a 6 point defeat on the road at Western Province.
The Cheetahs beat the Pumas 28-17 in Nelspruit earlier this season.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Free State Cheetahs 1/4
Draw 33/1
Pumas 33/10
Handicap: Cheetahs -10.5
Suggested Bet: Cheetahs (-10.5) at 9/10
The Pumas have a good recent record against the Cheetahs and you have to go back to 2017 for the last time the Cheetahs beat the Pumas by more than 10 points. The Cheetahs though will still fancy finishing top of the log and I think they will draw clear to win this comfortably.
SHARKS v GOLDEN LIONS
The Sharks are currently 4th on the table, 2 points behind the Griquas and 2 points ahead of the Pumas who are breathing down their neck. They had a bye last time out and prior to that were well beaten by the Cheetahs on the road 44-15 while their last home game was a disappointing 10 point loss to the Pumas, a game where they started favourites.
The Lions have only won 1 of 11 matches and sit bottom of the log, but that victory did come last time out 33-10 at home to Western Province. With the Lions out of the URC they have been selecting from the URC squad and while the teams haven't been announced at the time of writing I would expect them to do the same this week.
The Sharks beat the Lions 43-31 in an entertaining encounter in Johannesburg earlier in the season.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Sharks 14/10
Draw 25/1
Golden Lions 13/20
Handicap: Sharks +3.5
Suggested Bet: Golden Lions (-3.5) at 9/10
I am assuming the Lions will select their URC players and if so I can’t see the Sharks side staying with them.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
