The Currie Cup is back and in this blog we keep an eye on the betting, the weather and team news and we also offer up a bet in each game.
BET: CAVALIERS V CHEETAHS
Posted 27 July 13h40
2 units Cheetahs by 1-12 points at 18/10 at Sportingbet
There has been further money for the home team that are now +7.5. The points line is stable at 68.5 but I see quite a few bookies have not priced up yet.
I have no strong feel here and am tempted to sit this one out but that would be out of character and I will have a small interest in the Cheetahs edging a close one.
BETTING AND WEATHER UPDATE
Posted 27 July 09h55
The 1st week of Currie Cup has treated me well with only the Renzo Last Lions Try Scorer going missing.
Looking to this afternoons game the handicap is steady now at +8.5 Boland and the total points line is 68.5.
From the foecast I have seen the sun should be out with a temperature of around 18 degress and humidity in the 50's.
A lazy Sunday afternoon bet to follow.
WEATHER UPDATE LIONS GAME
Posted 26 July 14h22
It is raining here 15km from the ground - came from nowhere - be careful with overs and if not on suggest you wait.
BET: WP v BULLS
Posted 26 July 14h13
3 units Bulls win at 0.89/1 at Betxchange
The money has come for the Bulls and while annoyed I never grabbed the early value I still think the Bulls are worth a punt.
I may be back with a points play later - lets see how things go.
BET 2: LIONS V SHARKS
Posted July 26 14h07
0.5 unit Renzo Du Plessis Lions last try scorer at 11/1 at Pokerbets
Renzo Du Plessis is on the bench and he is 11/1 to score the Lions last try.
He has an eye for the line and sonmetimes conducts the Lions maul
BET: LIONS V SHARKS
Posted 26 July 11h24
3 units Lions over 39.5 points at 10/11 at Betxchange
This looks a really strong Lions team and while this Sharks team have some unknown players (to me at any rate) I am expecting a strong showing from the home team. I don't think the bit of rain we have had over the last 48 hours will have any impact and I will take the Lions to score 40 or more.
I am also eyeing out something in the try scorers market but will post after gym and the Aus v BIL 2nd test.
BETTING UPDATE
Posted 26 July 2025 10h58
The Pumas and Griquas got us off to a nice start with overs landing comfortably at the Mbombela.
Here is the latest betting and 1st bet of the day will follow shortly.
Golden Lions -15.5 vs Sharks, points 65.5 - nie day in Joburg but we have had some light overnight rain the last 2 nights
Western Province +0.5 vs Blue Bulls, points 58.5 - big move from -5.5 and Bulls now favourites, must say when I saw the teams I was going to get on but got distracted and am regretting that now
Boland Cavaliers +9.5 vs Free State Cheetahs - money for Boland who opened +8.5, drifted to +12.5 and are back in to +9.5
PUMAS VS GRIQUAS - BET
Posted 25 July 13h31
I have limited knowledge on the players and teams at this early stage, so I’ll be taking a cautious approach in Week 1. The handicap in the opening fixture has shifted back in from Pumas [-16.5] to [-12.5], which is where it originally opened.
The total points line ranges between 63.5 and 66.5, and I’m expecting a high-scoring encounter.
My opening play is Over 63.5 points at odds of 0.87/1 with Pokerbets — 3 units staked.
BETTING UPDATE
Posted 25 July 08h15
Pumas -16.5 vs Griquas
Golden Lions -14.5 vs Sharks
Western Province -4.5 vs Blue Bulls
Boland Cavaliers +12.5 vs Free State Cheetahs
No points lines available yet
CURRIE CUP WEEKEND WEATHER UPDATE
Posted 25 July 08h11
Airlink Pumas v Suzuki Griquas – Friday, 25 July, 19:00, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Cool with some cloud cover expected, but conditions should remain dry. Humidity in the 50s. – Click here for the latest forecast at TimeandDate.com
Fidelity ADT Lions v Hollywoodbets Sharks – Saturday, 26 July, 15:00, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Partly cloudy and dry during the match, with rain only forecast later in the evening. Humidity in the 20s. – Click here for the latest forecast at TimeandDate.com
DHL Western Province v Vodacom Bulls – Saturday, 26 July, 17:10, DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Mild and clear conditions predicted, with humidity in the 60s – Click here for the latest forecast at TimeandDate.com
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers v Toyota Cheetahs – Sunday, 27 July, 15:00, Boland Stadium, Wellington
Mild temops and clear skies expected. Humidity in the 40s. – Click here for the latest forecast at TimeandDate.com
Currie Cup Week 1 Team Sheets
Friday Pumas v Griquas
Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Lindi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashle, 12 Clinton Swart (vice-captain), 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Kwanda Dimaza, 6 Ntsika Fisante, 5 Jeandré Leonard, 4 Heinz Bertram, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke
Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwau, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 JJ Scheepers, 20 Andre Fouché, 21 Russwell Fredericks, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Stephan Coetzee
Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Caleb Abrahams, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Carl Els, Jac van der Walt, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 Leon Lyons
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Randt, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Marco de Witt, 21 Thomas Bursey, 2w Taylor Sefoor, 23 Connor Mahoney
Saturday Lions v Sharks
Lions: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabs Maxwane, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Izan Esterhuizen, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Morgan Naude
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 Heiko Pohlmann, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Kelly Mpeku
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Phiko Sobahle, 13 Litelihle Bester, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Khuthi Rasivaga, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Sphephelo Mbonambi, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Mawande Mdanda, 2 Bryce Calvert, 1 Phatu Ganyane
Replacements: 16 Willem van Wyk, 17 Dian Bleuer, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Kuhle Mthimkhulu, 20 Tomas Dyer, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Drico Marx, 23 Chijindu Okonta
Saturday Western Province v Bulls
Western Province: 15 Shilton van Wyk, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Luke Burger, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Quewin Nortje, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Asad Moos, 8 De Wet Marais, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Zain Davids (captain), 5 Gary Porter, 4 Alex Groves, 3 Cabous Eloff, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Arno Gustafson, 19 Carlo van Greunen, 20 Erhard Lambrecht, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Sako Makata, 23 Tristan Leyds
Bulls: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Katlego Letebele, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Nama Xaba (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Schurmann, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Dylan de Leeuw, 21 Steven Nel, 22 PA van Niekerk, 23 Marco Ferreira
Sunday Boland Cavaliers v Cheetahs
Boland Cavaliers: 15 James Tedder, 14 Marcqiewn Titus, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Donavan Don, 10 Ashlon Davids (vice-captain), 9 Chriswill September, 8 Sibusiso Sangweni, 7 Khwezi Mafu, 6 Gift Dlamini, 5 Marlyn Williams (captain), 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper
Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Thurlow Marsh, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Xavier Mitchell
Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Ntokozo Makhaza, 13 Marco Janse van Vuuren, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Banie Britz, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Pierre-Raymond Uys, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuuren, 3 Frankie Dos Reis, 2 Marco Janse van Rensburg, 1 Hencus van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Ben Pitout, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Jandre Nel, 22 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 23 Clayton Blommetjies
BETTING UPDATE
Posted July 24 09h27
Lates handicap in brackets - money for the Lions and Pumas
Pumas -12.5 (-14.5) vs Griquas
Golden Lions -9.5 (-12.5) vs Sharks
Western Province -5.5 (-5.5) vs Blue Bulls
Boland Cavaliers +8.5 (+9.5) vs Free State Cheetahs
CURRIE CUP WEEK 1 TEAM SHEETS
Team sheets will be posted below when available
CURRIE CUP 2025 - WEEK 1
Posted 22 July 19h17
The Sharks will be looking to defend their Currie Cup title they won when beating the table topping Lions 16-14 in Johannesburg in September 2024.
7 teams will be looking to stop them with newcomers the Boland Cavaliers replacing the Griffons.
Week 1 Fixtures and Betting
The 2025 Currie Cup kicks off with Round 1 on Friday, 25 July, as the Pumas host Griquas at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. Saturday features two exciting clashes, with the Golden Lions taking on the Sharks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg and Western Province hosting the Blue Bulls at DHL Stadium in Cape Town. The opening round wraps up on Sunday, 27 July, when the Boland Cavaliers face the Free State Cheetahs at Boland Stadium in Wellington.
Here are the Week 1 fixtures with opening handicaps
Friday, 25 July – 19:00
Pumas -12.5 vs Griquas – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
• Saturday, 26 July – 15:00
Golden Lions -9.5 vs Sharks – Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
• Saturday, 26 July – 17:10
Western Province -5.5 vs Blue Bulls – DHL Stadium, Cape Town
• Sunday, 27 July – 15:00
Boland Cavaliers +8.5 vs Free State Cheetahs – Boland Stadium, Wellington
Keep en eye on the Goodforthegame Forum to see what other punters fancy.
Updates on betting, teams and weather to follow throughout the week
