Written by @QuintenLetcher for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
Allister Coetzee’s charges won’t be collecting any voyager miles from here on in as the cheeky Capetonians cruise into the final round of the regular season a resounding eight points clear at the top of the log, guaranteeing themselves home advantage right through to the final. In fact, this weekend’s action is unlikely to have any impact on the top half of the log, with the Lions, currently two points clear of the third-placed Sharks, needing just a simple home victory over their feeble Free State visitors to secure themselves a home semi-final. The belligerent Bulls need merely to dispose of Griquas at Loftus to book the fourth and final spot in the playoffs.
Eastern Province Kings vs Pumas | Friday 10 October | Nelson Mandela Stadium | 19:10
Mathematically the Pumas remain within reach of the fourth and final playoff spot. But when “mathematically” is the best way to describe your chances, you know you’re in some trouble.
To Win (80mins)
Kings 18/10
Pumas 9/20
Draw 28/1
Handicaps
Kings (+5.5) 9/10
Pumas (-5-5) 9/10
The Kings will field a new-look front row following injuries to CJ van der Linde and Charles Marais, with BG Uys and Simon Kerrod set to join hooker Martin Ferreira. Lock Darron Nell will lead the winless side out for their last game of the season. Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has made two injury enforced changes for Saturday’s clash with the hapless Kings in PE. Flanker Jaco Bouwer has been sidelined with a back injury and is replaced by Brian Shabangu, while number eight Renaldo Bothma is out with a broken cheek, opening a space for RW Kember in the starting XV.
VERDICT: Pumas (-5.5) 9/10
The Kings will be hoping to avoid a humiliating, but seemingly inevitable, whitewash in their first season back in the Premier Division, but with the Pumas still dreaming of sneaking into the playoffs this game is only going to go one way.
Golden Lions vs Free State Cheetahs | Saturday 11 October | Ellis Park | 15:00
The Cheetahs are another side harbouring romanticised thoughts of reaching this year’s playoffs, but unfortunately even a resounding bonus-point securing, Lion-taming victory at Ellis Park this Saturday will be all for nought if the Bulls simply brush past Griquas later in the evening.
To Win (80mins)
Lions 2/7
Cheetahs 28/10
Draw 28/1
Handicaps
Lions (-9.5) 9/10
Cheetahs (+9.5) 9/10
The Lions will be without centre Stokkies Hanekom for the remainder of the season after the powerful runner broke his leg during last week’s loss to the Sharks in Durban. Fullback Andries Coetzee will also miss Saturday’s clash, having failed to recover in time from the groin strain that kept him sidelined last week. Cheetahs coach Rory Duncan has thrown his returning Springbok stars straight back into the mix as his side makes a last-gasp attempt to break through into the playoffs, with lock Lood de Jager, flank Teboho Mohoje and prop Trevor Nyakane all set to start in the final clash of the regular season.
VERDICT: Lions (-9.5) 9/10
Chucking a few fatigued Springboks into the Cheetahs side is hardly going to throw this clinical Lions side off in front of their growing home crowd.
Western Province vs Sharks | Saturday 11 October | Newlands | 17:05
A repeat of last year’s title decider, on paper this clash promises a certain level of ferocity, but if the Lions have already claimed the points against the Cheetahs by the time the action kicks off in Cape Town, then this becomes nothing more than a frivolous affair.
To Win (80mins)
Western Province 15/20
Sharks 11/10
Draw 25/1
Handicaps
Western Province (-1.5) 9/10
Sharks (+1.5) 9/10
Western Province are yet to release their final team selections for Saturday’s showdown with the defending champs, but it looks like centre Jaco Taute could sit this one out having sustained a rib injury during last week’s tussle with the Cheetahs. There is also talk of a surprise one-match return by former Province captain Anton van Zyl after four years away as Allister Coetzee looks for ways to alleviate some of their injury concerns ahead of the playoffs. No final team news for the Sharks yet either but their tour plans took a bit of hit following news of both hooker Kyle Cooper and centre Paul Jordaan being ruled out of contention with injuries.
VERDICT: Sharks 11/10
The Sharks have a knack of winning when the stakes are low, so I’ll back them for this dead rubber clash.
Blue Bulls vs Griquas | Saturday 11 October | Loftus Versfeld | 19:10
Another clash that will have its significance determined by earlier results, should both the Pumas and the Cheetahs fail in the final round, the Bulls could give this one a miss and still feature in the playoffs.
To Win (80mins)
Bulls 1/20
Griquas 10/1
Draw 33/1
Handicaps
Bulls (-18.5) 9/10
Griquas (+18.5) 9/10
Griquas coach Hawies Fourie has had to make several changes to his side ahead of their trip to the capital as injuries continue to plague the beleaguered team. Having now lost both locks Hilton Lobberts and Boela Serfontein, flank Carel Greef and prop Janro van Niekerk, Fourie has been left with no option but to play hooker Simon Westraadt at prop and lock Jonathan Adendorf on the flank in a makeshift forward pack. The Bulls have made it clear that they intend to play Springbok sensation Handre Pollard off the bench this weekend whether he has fully recovered from the ankle injury that kept him out of practice earlier this week or not. But while Handre is to be rushed back into action despite just returning from national duty, JJ Engelbrecht is oddly unavailable for the Bulls this week as he is a contracted Springbok and therefore ineligible for the remainder of the Currie Cup, despite having already run out for the Bulls this season following his axing from the national setup.
VERDICT: Bulls (-18.5) 9/10
A thumping was on the cards for Griquas anyhow, but their crippling injury list makes even this handicap seem small for the Bulls at home.
Think we’ve got it wrong? Well leave your comments below and tell us how you think this is going to play out.
