Minnow sides, the Griquas and Pumas, will lock horns in Round 1 Currie Cup action on Friday the 17th of July.
The Pumas and Griquas will square off this Friday afternoon in what should be a rather entertaining affair. The hosts have enjoyed a solid start to 2018, winning the recently concluded SuperSport Challenge, and head into this one as strong favourites with the ‘books.
Pumas v Griquas
Friday 18 July
Mbombela Stadium
17:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Pumas 5/10
Draw 25/1
Griquas 16/10
Handicap
Pumas (-5.5) 9/10
Griquas (+.5.5) 9/10
Pumas
As touched on in the introduction, the Pumas have enjoyed a very happy 2018 thus far. The men from Nelspruit were in brilliant touch during the SuperSport Rugby Challenge, winning all ten of their fixtures. And while they have lost their inspirational coach Brent Janse van Rensburg, who is being touted as the next EP Kings coach, they have still retained the majority of their title-winning squad.
This Saturday’s hosts will have fond memories of their last clash with the Griquas as it was the final of the aforementioned SuperSport Challenge and saw them run out 32-30 victors. We could be in for a similar scoreline here as neither of these sides is scared to give the ball air.
Griquas
Like the Pumas, the Griquas will be up for this one and will want to exert a spot of revenge after the aforementioned two-point defeat to their opponents. The Griquas also enjoyed a solid SuperSport Rugby Challenge campaign only suffering two defeats; the Final loss and a one-point round-robin loss to the Cheetahs XV.
The Griquas have also managed to secure the majority of SuperSport Rugby Challenge squad for this campaign. Journeyman George Whitehead and fullback AJ Coertzen are likely to be the stars of the show this Saturday.
Verdict: Pumas (-5.5) 9/10
The Pumas have won the last three games between the sides, and my money is on them making it four on the trot here.
