In this week 3 betting blog we look back on week 2 and then ahead to week 3 with handicap projections, early betting, team news, weather and of finally a bet in each game.

 

 

 

BET: BOLAND V LIONS 

Posted 10 August 14h24 

BET: 3 units under72.5 points at 9/10 at Betxchange 

The handicap is firm at +19.5 Boland and the total points line is 72.5. 

I can understand the high quote but as in the Bulls game I start to get tempted by the unders at those levels. 

There was some rain about yesterday and as Hanrick pointed out on Thursday edition of The Handicap the ground does not drain that well. 

I am taking the unders and will hope that there is some mud about. 

 

The Rugby Championship Week 1 Blog is up and running 

 

SHARKS RUIN THE DAY 

Posted 10 August 10h58

The unders in the Bulls game arrived without issues but I could not have missed the Sharks game overs by more - what a shocker of a match and thank goodness the entry was free. 

If you were a spreads punter yesterday would have been crazy with buyers of Bulls points at around the 30 point mark taking an 60 unitt pounding and if I had bought points at 63 in the Sharks game it would have been a career ending loss. 

In fixed odds whether you lose or win by 1 point or 50 makese no difference and I am still ahead of the bookies although not by much. 

The Lions are -19.5 and I will return with a bet once we have points lines 

 

BET: SHARKS vs CHEETAHS

Posted 09 August 14h56

This game is being played at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium outside of New Germany in Clermont about 30km from Durban. This should ensure a great atmosphere and it will be interesting to see if a young Sharks team can feed on it.

They have been woeful to date scoring 5 points and conceding 110 and they face a Cheetahs side beaten in the Boland in week 1 but that was followed by a nice home win against the Pumas last week.

The handicap has been stable around +5.5 Sharks all week but has moved to +8.5 and we have a points line of 61.5 to 63.5.

Conditions should be good and I am in the overs camp here.

 

BET: 4 units over 61.5 points at 17/20 at WSB

 

BET: BULLS vs PUMAS

Posted 09 August 13h54

There has been money for the Bulls all week with the handicap edging from an opening call of -25.5 to the current line of -28.5.

We also have a points line now ranging from 72.5 to 75.5 and it is no surprise that it is high given how points have flowed in this comp and the fact that conditions should be great.

That being said there comes a time when the unders gets tempting and that is the case now. Assuming there are no 3 pointers you basically need 11 converted tries to land over 75.5 or 12 tries with at least 8 converted.

This is going to be a nightmare to watch but I am on the under 75.5. The Bulls have made a few changes and if they get well clear things may get a bit scrappy. We basically need a quiet quarter at some point.

BET: 4 units under75.5 points at 17/20 at Sportingbet

 

NEVER IN DOUBT 

Posted 09 August 06h14

I have had some great escapes in my time and yesterdays over 9.5 tries play is right up there. 

With under 15 minutes to go I needed 4 tries and I had pretty much written it off. The players were tired though and the game really opened up and somehow or other the bet landed to cap a good Friday (had a nice winner courtesy of The Mossman in the NPC earlier) . 

As far as todays games and my Weekly Newsletter goes we don't have points lines yet and I am joining my daughter for Park Run (walk in my case) and then heading to watch a strongman competition so will only be posting early afternoon. 

Keep an eye on the forum for more bets - cheers till later. 

 

BET: GRIQUAS vs WP 

Posted 08 Aug 13h09 

4 units over 9.5 tries at 8/11 at Sportingbet 

I guess after the last couple of weeks we were never going to get an opening quote of 63.5 and sine the quote came out at 68.5 I have been looking at the game from all angles. 

Griquas kicked penalties in their opener against the Pumas but last week it was a case of going for the corners and I am thinking 3 pointers will be few and far between. 

That means we would need 10 tries 9 of which would have to be converted to land over 68.5. 

It is a shorter price but I prefer the over 9.5 tries to get my Currie Cup weekend started. That way we don't have to sweat the conversions. 

There were 14 in Kimberley last week and Griquas look like a side that will score plenty but also concede loads as well. 

 

POINTS LINE IN KIMBERLEY AT LAST 

Posted 08 August 11h23

The bookies have priced up on the Griquas v WP points and there is 68.5 and 69.5 available. 

This is where I expected it and I am going to give a bit more thought before placing a bet.  

 

 

TEAMS AND WEATHER 

Posted 07 August 22h52

Below are the teams for Week 3 as well as the weather forecast 

 

Griquas v WP 

Weather: Temp in late teens, some cloud and wind but dry, humidity in the 40's - click here for updates 

 

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 Carel van der Merwe, 6 Carl Els, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Cebo Dlamini (captain), 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.

Western Province: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Sako Makata, 13 Justin Geduld, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Jared Africa, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Louw Nel, 7 De Wet Marais, 6 Zain Davids (captain), 5 Gary Porter, 4 Alex Groves, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo.

 

Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 Adam de Waal, 20 Aden da Costa, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Luke Burger, 23 Shilton van Wyk.

 

Bulls v Pumas 

Weather:  temp in high teens, some cloud but humidity in the 40's- click here for updates

Bulls: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Katlego Letebele, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Zak Burger (captain), 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 JJ Theron, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Juann Else, 1 Dylan Smith

Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Casper Badenhorst, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Dylan de Leeuw, 21 Marco Ferreira, 22 Daimon O’Connel, 23 PA van Niekerk

Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashle, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude (vice-captain), 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisante, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Zuki Sali, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 Hanno Theunissen, 20 Andre Fouché, 21 Russwell Fredericks, 22 Tiaan Pretorius , 23 Dalvon Blood

 

Sharks v Cheetahs 

Weather:  Temp early 20's, some cloud, humidity in the 30's - click here for updates 

Sharks: 15 Jaco Williams, 14 Phiko Sobahle, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Marnus Potgieter, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Matt Ramao, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Corne Rahl, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Jacques Marais, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Replacements: 16 Willem van den Hever, 17 Simphiwe Ngobese, 18 Dian Heunis, 19 Coetzee le Roux, 20 Jannes Potgieter, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Albie Bester.

Cheetahs: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Ntokozo Makhaza, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Franco Smith, 11 Banie Britz, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Sisonke Vumazonke, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Juan Venter, 3 Frankie Dos Reis, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Cameron Dawson
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Thabang Mahlase, 20 Gideon van der Merwe, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Ethan Wentzel

 

Cavaliers v Lions 

Weather: Mid tee,s humidity in 50's, cloud but no rain, rain expected all day Saturday though - click here for updates 

 

Boland Cavaliers: 15 James Tedder, 14 Donavan Don, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Xavier Mitchell, 10 Ashlon Davids (vice-captain), 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh, 7 Ludio Williams, 6 Sauliegh Arendse, 5 Marlyn Williams (captain), 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper
Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Khwezi Mafu, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Erik Lambrecht

Lions: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Kelly Mpeku, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Raynard Roets, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Stian de Bruyn, 19 Johndre Stopforth, 20 Luca Ribbens, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Layton Horn, 23 Bronson Mills

 

CURRIE CUP LINES AT LAST 

Posted 07 August 07h12 

We finally have some handicaps to apply our minds to - these early handicaps are at World Sports Betting and are in brackets to the right of my projections

 

Griquas -4.5 (-6.5) vs Western Province

Bulls -20.5 (-25.5) vs Pumas

Sharks +5.5 (+4.5) vs Cheetahs

Boland +14.5 (+17.5) vs Lions

 

As expected early in the comp a few differences but not enough to get me involved at this point. Lets wait for teams and points lines. 

 

OUTRIGHT BETTING UPDATE 

Posted 04 August 11h40

It is hard to argue that the Bulls are short priced favourites after the 1st 2 weeks. 

 

• Bulls – 11/20

• Lions – 19/10

• Pumas – 16/1

• Western Province – 22/1

• Cheetahs – 22/1

• Sharks – 50/1

• Griquas – 66/1

• Boland – 149/1

 

WEEK 3 HANDICAP PROJECTIONS

Posted 03 August 21h26

I like to get my handicap projections out ahead of the bookmakers and a big difference means further investigation and a possible early bet. This was a tough week as there were no common opponents to draw a line of form from. 

 

Friday, 8 August 2025 – 15:00, Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley
Griquas -4.5 vs Western Province

Saturday, 9 August 2025 – 15:00, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Bulls -20.5 vs Pumas

Saturday, 9 August 2025 – 17:10, Kings Park, Durban Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, Clermont 
Sharks +5.5 vs Cheetahs

Sunday, 10 August 2025 – 15:00, Boland Stadium, Wellington
Boland +14.5 vs Lions

 

Last week we got Currie Cup prices on Tuesday night and lets hope we get earlier this week. 

 

 

WEEK 2 RECAP: SO CLOSE TO A FULL HOUSE 

Posted 03 August 21h17

The blog hit 3 from 4 this past week with the only disappointment missing out on over 59.5 in the Lions v WP game. The math finished on 59 points and the Lions missed a conversion whih would have delivered but at the time I was not worried as there was plenty of time left. The last 15 minutes were an awful watch though. 

 

Friday, 01 August 2025
Toyota Cheetahs XV 42 FT 25 Airlink Pumas, the Cheetahs started 0.5 point favourites and the Blog Bet over 63.5 cruised home

Saturday, 02 August 2025
Fidelity ADT Lions 40 FT 19 DHL Western Province, the Lions started -18.5 and the Blog Bet over 59.5 points missed by the narrowest of margins

Vodacom Bulls 64 FT 0 Hollywoodbets Sharks XV, The Bulls started -24.5 and the Blog Bet Bulls over 6.5 tries landed early

Sunday, 03 August 2025
Suzuki Griquas 48 FT 39 Boland Kavaliers, the Griquas started -8.5 and the minus backers scraped in, the Blog Bet over 66.5 arrived in the 51st minute 

 

Currie Cup 2025 Standings

1. Bulls – Played: 2 | Points: 10

2. Lions – Played: 2 | Points: 10

3. Cheetahs – Played: 2 | Points: 7

4. Pumas – Played: 2 | Points: 6

5. Boland – Played: 2 | Points: 6

6. Griquas – Played: 2 | Points: 5

7. Western Province – Played: 2 | Points: 0

8. Sharks – Played: 2 | Points: 0

 

My handicap projections for week 2 will follow later tonight. 

 

 

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 Carel van der Merwe, 6 Carl Els, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Cebo Dlamini (captain), 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.

Western Province: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Sako Makata, 13 Justin Geduld, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Jared Africa, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Louw Nel, 7 De Wet Marais, 6 Zain Davids (captain), 5 Gary Porter, 4 Alex Groves, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 Adam de Waal, 20 Aden da Costa, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Luke Burger, 23 Shilton van Wyk.