Written by @QuintenLetcher for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
Golden Lions vs Sharks | Saturday 18 October | Ellis Park | 14:30
A somewhat supercilious Sharks side heads for Johannesburg this weekend expecting to pick up a fifth consecutive victory in this year’s competition in order to force their way into their fifth consecutive Currie Cup final, but with the unrelenting Lions yet to suffer a defeat at home this season, this high-altitude showdown should be anything but a foregone conclusion. The Lions last tasted Currie Cup glory back in 2011 and have fallen just shy of the final in their last two showings, wrapping up as losing semi-finalists. But they look a team possessed this season, and judging by their resounding forty-point victory over the Cheetahs last week they have absolutely no intention of showing any mercy from here on in.
To Win (80mins)
Lions 5/10
Sharks 16/10
Draw 25/1
Handicaps
Lions (-5.5) 9/10
Sharks (+5.5) 9/10
Lions
The Lions have undoubtedly been the more consistent of these two sides, they are the only side to finish up the regular season with a 100% home win record this season and they were the first side to bring down pace-setting Province. But if the Lions really want to move past the semis this year they’ll need their fleet-footed loose trio of Warren Whiteley, Derick Minnie and Jaco Kriel to be at the menacing best. Coach Johan Ackermann has named an unchanged side following their impressive 47-7 demolition of the Cheetahs at Ellis Park last week so expect to see the likes of Marnitz Boshoff and Lionel Mapoe unleashing relentless attacks on their visitors’ defence for much of the Highveld clash.
Sharks
The lads from Durban did well to bounce back from their mid-season speed-wobble that left them winless for three weeks and very nearly cost them the chance of making the playoffs. Not only did they manage to pick up four fancy wins on the trot, but they managed to take down both the Lions and Province over the past few weeks, meaning the Sharks will be anything but short on confidence from here on in. No final team news for the Sharks this week but hooker Kyle Cooper is expected to make a return to the run on side after sitting out last week’s clash with an ankle injury.
VERDICT: Sharks 16/10
The Sharks have been the pick of the bunch in the second half of this season’s Currie Cup, and pulling off an emphatic win in Cape Town last weekend proves they have every intention of successfully defending their title, no matter the cost. Yes, Province were understrength and yes, the Sharks looked far from the finished article for much of the season. However, I believe their playoff pedigree will shine through and help clinch a potentially staggering upset.
Think we’ve got it wrong? Well leave your comments below and tell us how you think this is going to play out.
