In this Currie Cup blog we look back on week 1 and then ahead to week 2 with handicap projection, early betting, team news, weather and of course a bet in each game.
BET: GRIQUAS V BOLAND
Posted 03 August 10h35
4 units over 66.5 points at 19/20 at Hollywoodbets
A missed conversion and a terrible final 15 minutes in the Lions game means I am 2-1 heading into Sundays math rather than 3-0. The Bulls though comfortably delivered the required 7 tries against an awful Sharks tteam.
The handicap for Sundays match appears settled now at -8.5 Griquas and we have a points line of 66.5.
That sounds high but I am not sure it is high enough.
There were 77 points in the Griquas visit to Nelspruit last week and 72 when Boland hosted the Cheetahs last Sunday.
There is a bit of wind about in Kimberley this afternoon but it is a typical mild winters day and the field should be hard and fast.
I considered taking over 9.5 tries instead of over 66.5 points but both these sides showed a willingness to take 3 pointers early on last week and I am settling on points.
BET: BULLS V SHARKS & BETTING UPDATE
Posted 02 August 13h38
Total points is now 63.5 in the Lions game and it has moved from 64.5 to 67.5 in the Bulls v Sharks game.
The Bulls handicap has also moved from -22.5 to -24.5.
4 units Bulls over 6.5 tries at 8/10 at Hollywoodbets
I was hoping for a Bulls points line at around 40 but the bookies are wide awake and I have seen anything from 45.5 to 47.5.
I would be surprised if we see 3 pointers and will back the Bulls to score 7 tries or more.
BET: LIONS vs WP
Posted 02 August 07h35
4 units over 59.5 points 0.87/1 at Pokerbet
The Lions remain big favourites at -17.5 but it is the opening points line that catches the eye. There is some cloud about this morning but it should be clear for the game and humidity forecast has moved into the 40's which is still low.
I expect the 59.5 to move out a couple of points and hopefully WP can contribute more points this week than the Sharks did in week 1.
BET: CHEETAHS V PUMAS
Posted 01 August 07h33
4 units over 63.5 points 0.87/1 at Pokerbet
There has been some movement in this handicap with the Cheetahs opening -0.5 only for the line to move to +3.5 Cheetahs on the back of Pumas money. The market has come back though with the Cheetahs once again 1/2 point favourites in what is basically a choice game.
Very few bookmakers are out with points lines but Pokerbet go 63.5.
There were 77 points in the Pumas opener and 72 in the Cheetahs and with conditions clear with some wind I am happy to take the overs here.
I am not flying in but I expect this to start around 66.5
BETTING UPDATE AND WEATHER FORECAST
Posted 31 July 13h18
Here is the latest betting as well as expected weather for each game
Cheetahs v Pumas
Handicap: This is a choice game with the Cheetahs in from +3.5
Weather: Cool at around 8 degrees and loudy but dry with humidity in the 20's - updates at TimeandDate.com
Lions v WP
Handicap: Steady at Lions -18.5
Weather: Temperature in mid teens, sunny and dry (humidity in 20's) - updates at TimeandDate.com
Bulls v Sharks
Handicap: Money for the Bulls -19.5 to current -22.5
Weather: Temperature in mid teens, clear and dry (humidity in 40's) - updates at TimeandDate.com
Griquas v Boland
Handicap: Support for Griquas -8.5 from -6.5
Weather: Temp early to mid 20's, cloud cover, humidity in 20's - click here for updates at AccuWeather
Week 2 Line Ups
Posted 12:00 31st July
Friday 1st August
Cheetahs: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Banie Britz, 13 Marco Janse van Vuuren, 12 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Gideon van der Merwe, 6 Sasko Ndlovu , 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Pierre Uys Vuuren, 3 Frankie Dos Reis, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Cameron Dawson
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen , 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Franco Smith, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.
Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Lindi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashle, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude (vice-captain), 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 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 Ruwald van der Merwe, 22 Russwell Fredericks, 23 Stefan Coetzee
Saturday 2nd August
Lions v Western Province
Lions: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naude.
Replacements: 16 Marno Grobbelaar, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 Heiko Pohlmann, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Kelly Mpeku
Western Province: 15 Shilton van Wyk, 14 Sako Makata, 13 Luke Burger, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Jared Africa, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Louw Nel, 7 Gideon van Wyk, 6 Zain Davids (captain), 5 Gary Porter, 4 Alex Groves, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Arno Gustafson, 19 Andre Goedhals, 20 Erhard Lambrecht, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Gino Cupido, 23 Tristan Leyds
Bulls v Sharks
Bulls: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Nama Xaba (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Ruan Swart, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 JJ Theron, 21 Steven Nel, 22 PA van Niekerk, 23 Cornel Smit
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Phiko Sobahle, 13 Litelihle Bester, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Bradley Davids (vice-captain), 8 Nick Hatton (Capt.), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Bryce Calvert, 1 Phatu Ganyane
Replacements: 16 Jacques Marais, 17 Simphiwe Ngobese, 18 Dian Heunis, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Matt Ramao, 21 Ceano Everson , 22 Vusi Moyo, 23 Albie Bester
Sunday 3rd August
Griquas: 15 Connor Mahoney, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Gurshwin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Caleb Abrahams, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Carl Els, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Eddie Davids.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Ig Prinsloo, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Marco de Wit, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Tom Nel, 23 Cameron Hufke.
Boland Cavaliers: 15 James Tedder, 14 Marcqiewn Titus, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Donavan Don, 10 Ashlon Davids, 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.
Currie Cup Week 2 Handicaps
Posted 09:00 30th July
Friday
Cheetahs (+3,5) Pumas
Saturday
Lions (-18.5) Western Province
Bulls (-19.5) Sharks
Sunday
Griqaus (-6.5) Boland
Quotes from World Sports Betting
CURRIE CUP WEEK 2 HANDICAP PROJECTIONS
Posted 27 July 22h00
I like to have a go at handicapping the games before the bookies come out. As this is early in the competition and I don't know the teams well I may be way off on occassion and won't be rushing into any bets.
Cheetahs -5.5 vs Pumas
Lions -15.5 vs Western Province
Bulls -18.5 vs Sharks
Griquas -8.5 vs Boland Cavaliers
SO CLOSE TO A PERFECT START
Posted 27 July 21h52
I took a conservative approach in week 1 but the blog ended up doing well by showing a profit in the 1st 3 games. Our final play was a small one and it lost in the 87th minute.
Friday, 25 July
• Pumas 49–28 Griquas – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Pumas started -12.5, blog bet over 63.5 arrived easily
Saturday, 26 July
• Lions 46–5 Sharks XV – Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Lions started -15.5, blog bet Lions over 39.5 arrived with a few minutes to spare
• Western Province 23–48 Bulls – DHL Stadium, Cape Town
The Bulls were backed from +5.5 to -1.5, blog bet Bulls to win at 0.89/1 was an easy winner
Sunday, 27 July
• Boland Cavaliers 37–35 Toyota Cheetahs XV – Boland Stadium, Wellington
Cheetahs started -7.5, Blog pick Cheetahs by 1-12 at 18/10 looked like landing but the Cavaliers scored a try deep into injury time to ruin a perfect start.
Here are the Currie Cup 2025 Week 2 fixtures with kick-off times:
• Friday, 1 August – 19:00
Toyota Cheetahs XV vs Airlink Pumas – Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
• Saturday, 2 August – 15:00
Fidelity ADT Lions vs DHL Western Province – Ellis Park, Johannesburg
• Saturday, 2 August – 17:10
Vodacom Bulls vs Hollywoodbets Sharks XV – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
• Sunday, 3 August – 15:00
Suzuki Griquas vs Boland Cavaliers – Tafel Lager Park, Kimberley
My handicap projections for week 2 to follow
Cheetahs: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Banie Britz, 13 Marco Janse van Vuuren, 12 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Gideon van der Merwe, 6 Sasko Ndlovu , 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Pierre Uys Vuuren, 3 Frankie Dos Reis, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Cameron Dawson
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen , 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Franco Smith, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.
Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Lindi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashle, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude (vice-captain), 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 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 Ruwald van der Merwe, 22 Russwell Fredericks, 23 Stefan Coetzee
