Written by @QuintenLetcher for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
Both Western Province and the Golden Lions pulled off resounding victories last weekend, but their neck-and-neck race for table-topping dominance will come to an end when the two meet down in Cape Town for what promises to be a cracker of a clash. Down at the less fortunate end of the table, Griquas are one of the three winless sides remaining in the competition, and with them heading off to Nelspruit this Friday to take on an impressive Pumas outfit, the plight of the Northern Cape people seems far from over. Cheetahs coach Rory Duncan experienced his first ever Currie win last week as his side wrestled a physical home win out of visiting Griquas, but things are likely to return to losing ways as they head down to Durban to take on the unbeaten Sharks in the final clash of the weekend.
Pumas vs Griquas | Friday 22 August | Mbombela Stadium | 19:10
Pumas have proven the pick of the top tier’s new recruits, having claimed a win over the Cheetahs in the opening round of clashes and pushing the Sharks far closer than the 17-point loss indicates. They are unlikely to have too tough a time at home against an ailing Griquas.
To Win (80mins)
Pumas 13/20
Griquas 27/20
Draw 25/1
Handicaps
Pumas (-3.5) 9/10
Griquas (3.5) 9/10
Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has made several changes to his side that ran out of steam in the final fifteen minutes at Kings Park last week, with Corne Fourie moving up off the bench to start at loosehead prop as Vincent Koch shifts across to the number three. Flanker Uzair Cassiem is promoted to the run on side replacing Jaco Bouwer who drops to the bench, while JW Bells falls out of the match day squad all together, with Heinrich Steyl starting at fullback this week. Griquas have included exciting UCT youngster Dean Grant in their run on side this week, taking over the flyhalf duties from Francois Brummer, who moves to fullback to fill in for the injured Nico Scheepers. Another fresh face in the Griquas set up sees Ruaan Lerm claiming his debut on the flank, with two further uncapped players, Doppies la Grange and Niel Marais, hoping to make an impact off the bench.
VERDICT: Pumas (-3.5) 9/10
Both teams run out with reshuffled sides this week which makes it difficult to predict the outcome based on their previous results alone. The Pumas have a good record at home, boast a more settled squad, and have held their own against the bigger unions so far this season. With Griquas opting for an inexperienced pivot for their visit to Nelspruit, I imagine the Pumas should have enough to clear the 3.5 handicap.
Blue Bulls vs Eastern Province Kings | Saturday 23 August | Loftus Versfeld | 15:00
The beleaguered Blue Bulls return home after a brutal two weeks on the road that produced a gruesome 52-point deficit in the scoreline differentials. They take on the only other side that remains completely pointless after two rounds of action, with the Kings making a reluctant trip to Loftus this Saturday.
To Win (80mins)
Bulls 1/33
Kings 12/1
Draw 40/1
Handicaps
Bulls (-17.5) 9/10
Kings (+17.5) 9/10
The Blue Bulls have taken another injury knock, with playmaker Jacques-Louis Potgieter and prop Morne Mellett having been ruled out for the next four weeks, joining a lengthy list of invalids that includes Pierre Spies, Flip van der Merwe, Jaco Visage and Akona Ndungane. Kings coach Carlos Spencer has made four changes to his side for their upcoming trip to Loftus, all of them in the forward pack. Powerhouse second-rower Steven Sykes joins Darron Nell in the new look engine room, while dynamic flank Paul Schoeman and skipper Luke Watson return this week, with Stefan Willemse shifting across to six.
VERDICT: Eastern Province Kings (+17.5) 9/10
Both sides had the misfortune of running into the Lions and Western Province in their first two clashes of the season, and both failed in equally dismal fashion. The Bulls should pull ahead early but will need to keep the tempo up all the way through if they don’t want to disappoint at home.
Western Province vs Golden Lions | Saturday 23 August | Newlands | 17:05
The two form sides of the season clash in Cape Town this Saturday in what will be the most exhilarating, and therefore least predictable, of the weekend’s fixtures.
To Win (80mins)
Western Province 5/10
Lions 17/10
Draw 28/1
Handicaps
Western Province (-5.5) 9/10
Lions (+5.5) 9/10
Province coach Allister Coetzee has named an unchanged side for Saturday’s colossal clash with the Lions, with centre Juan de Jongh retaining the captaincy having already led his side to two convincing victories. Lions coach Johan Ackermann has named an unchanged backline for their upcoming clash in Cape Town following his side’s clinical 60-19 destruction of the Kings as Ellis Park. A few changes upfront as Willie Britz and Warwick Tecklenburg come into the run on side, joining Derick Minnie in the back three of the scrum.
VERDICT: Western Province (-5.5) 9/10
Province are unstoppable at home, and with Allister Coetzee having a relatively unhindered season to date with regards to injuries, his side should have enough to clear the handicap.
Sharks vs Free State Cheetahs | Saturday 23 August | Kings Park | 19:10
Trailing the table-topping duo of the Lions and Province by just a single point, the Sharks will be looking to pull off a compelling bonus point home win over a crippled Cheetahs side to nudge past whichever side falls short at Newlands earlier in the afternoon.
To Win (80mins)
Sharks 2/7
Cheetahs 28/10
Draw 28/1
Handicaps
Sharks (-9.5) 9/10
Cheetahs (+9.5) 9/10
No team news released by the Sharks camp as of yet, but I expect an unchanged forward pack to run out at home after their match-winning performance last week against a relentless Pumas side that had the Sharks on the back foot for much of the game. Cheetahs coach Rory Duncan has been forced to make a few changes to his side this week due to injuries. With Luan de Bruin, Boom Prinsloo and Elgar Watts all ruled out of contention, youngster Rudolph Botha comes into the front row, Neil Claassen starts on the flank, and Willie du Plessis takes over at pivot.
VERDICT: Sharks (-9.5) 9/10
The Sharks will have ironed out their backline niggles that prevented them from taking a more controlling position for most of last week’s clash with the Pumas. And with the Cheetahs having now lost the services of the first choice playmakmaker Elgar Watts, things are unlikely to improve anytime soon.
Think we’ve got it wrong? Well leave your comments below and tell us how you think this is going to play out.
