We take a look at the 3 Currie Cup matches taking place this weekend and suggest a bet in each of them.
FRIDAY
PUMAS v SHARKS
The Pumas currently sit 6th on the table with just 1 win in their 4 matches to date. That came in their second match away to the Lions when they triumphed by 41 points and they are coming off a 28-17 loss to the Cheetahs at home in their last start.
The Sharks are currently top of the log with a 100% record. Their last match was away at the Lions and they were too strong winning 43-31 and they had previously beaten Western Province by 15 at home and edged the Griquas by 1 point also at home.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Pumas 4/1
Draw 28/1
Sharks 2/11
Handicap: Pumas (+9.5)
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Pumas (+9.5) at 10/11
The Pumas haven’t hosted the Sharks since 2019 due to COVID, but back then they beat them by 7 points and they have shown me enough this season to suggest that they can push all of the big guns in Nelspruit.
SATURDAY
GRIQUAS v BLUE BULLS
The Griquas are currently sitting 4th on the log and they face the Bulls who sit 1 position above them, but having played a game less. Last time out the Griquas beat Western Province in a close one 22-20 at home and prior to that they beat the Pumas also at home. They opened their campaign with away losses against the Cheetahs and Sharks.
The Bulls had a bye in the previous round, but prior to that they went down 38-25 to the Cheetahs at home and that having opened their campaign with a 14 point win over the Pumas away followed by a 19 point win over Western Province in Cape Town.
Griquas haven’t hosted the Bulls due to COVID since 2018 when the Bulls won a high scoring encounter 45-40 in Kimberley.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Griquas 23/10
Draw 25/1
Bulls 9/20
Handicap: Griquas (+5.5)
Suggested Bet: Griquas win at 23/10
The Blue Bulls are missing a lot of their players to the URC and the Griquas have shown that they are capable of pushing the big guns when they are missing their star players. They are a tough nut to crack at home and I think they can pull an upset win here.
CHEETAHS v LIONS
The Cheetahs are currently 2nd on the log with 3 wins in 3 starts. Last time out they beat the Pumas 28-17 on the road and prior to that beat the Bulls by 13 at Loftus and the Griquas by 10 points in Bloemfontein.
They face a Lions side currently sitting bottom of the table without a win in their opening 3 games. They lost by 12 points to the Sharks at home last time out and had previously got hammered by 41 against the Pumas at home and lost by 12 points to Western Province away from home. One common denominator in Lions games is that they have been high scoring fixtures.
The Cheetahs hosted the Lions in last year’s Currie Cup with the match finishing 44-44.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Cheetahs 2/13
Draw 30/1
Lions 9/2
Handicap: Cheetahs (-10.5)
Suggested bet: Handicap, Cheetahs (-10.5) at 4/6
The money is coming in for the home team and I can understand why, they look too strong for this Lions side and I fancy a comfortable victory for the Cheetahs.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
