Round 1 of the 2019 Currie Cup gets underway on Friday the 12th of July. Darry Worthington previews the round’s three fixtures, below.
The world’s oldest domestic rugby competition will get underway on Friday the 12th of July, and while the tournament doesn’t carry the same prestige it used to it is still a cracking competition.
The opening round will see the Sharks play host to the Griquas on Friday evening and the Lions and pumas as well as Western Province and the Bull clash in Saturday’s doubleheader.
*Click here for our tournament preview
Sharks XV v Tafel Larger Griquas
Friday 12 July
Kings Park
19:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Sharks 1/10
Draw 30/1
Griquas 11/2/10
Handicap
Sharks (-16.5) 9/10
Griquas (+16.5) 9/10
Reigning champions, the Cell C Sharks XV, will be looking for a fast start to their title defence when they take on a Griquas side who recently won the SuperSport Rugby Challenge.
The two sides enjoyed contrasting fortunes during last year’s Currie Cup with the Sharks winning five of their six regular-season games before beating the Lions 33-24 in the semis and Western Province 17-12 in the final. The Griquas, on the other hand only managed to win one of their six regular-season games with the 52-24 victory coming at home against an understrength Cheetahs XV.
The Natalians received a couple of personnel boosts earlier this week securing the services of young Lions winger Madosh Tambwe and resigning former Kings Park darling JP Pietersen.
Verdict: Sharks (-16.5) 9/10
This is a rather tough one to predict. The Griquas were good during the SuperSport Rugby Challenge but the Currie Cup is a massive step up in class especially when you’re playing against a side like the Sharks who have a host of Super Rugby players at their disposal.
While I can see the Griquas keeping it tighter than last year’s 11-41, I can also see a late second-half flurry of tries from the Natalians leading to a comfortable victory. My money is on the hosts winning this one by between 15 and 20 points.______________________________________________
*Click here for our seven Currie Cup players to watch piece
Golden Lions XV v Phakisa Pumas
Saturday 13 July
Emirates Airline Park
15:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Lions 3/10
Draw 25/1
Pumas 26/10
Handicap
Lions (-8.5) 9/10
Pumas (+8.5) 9/10
A new look Lions XV will get their 2019 campaign underway with a rather tough clash against a street smart Pumas side.
The hosts have lost a number of seasoned veterans with Springbok call-ups as well as off-season recruitment drives from Japanese rugby clubs robbing the 2015 champions of the core of their side. They will be heavily reliant on their young guns this season, with a lot of pressure set to be placed on the shoulders of former Springbok Under 20’s Tyrone Green and Wandisile Simalane.
While a few of the Lions squad have been through a bruising Super Rugby campaign, the Pumas boys had to endure a solid but ultimately heartbreaking SuperSport Rugby Challenge that saw them win all their games on the way to the final where they were beaten by the Griquas.
Verdict: Pumas (+8.5) 9/10
I think the Lions are in for a long old campaign. While they do have some quality young guns on their books they have lost too much experience to be a truly competitive side this term. I can see them being run very close by a Pumas side that features a number of journeymen, who only lost 21-33 to the same opponents last year.
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Western Province v Blue Bulls
Saturday 13 July
DHL Newlands
17:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Western Province 4/10
Draw 25/1
Bulls 22/10
Handicap
Western Province (-6.5) 9/10
Bulls (+6.5) 9/10
The final game of the opening round also happens to be the pick of the action with Western Province taking on the Bulls in a North versus South Derby.
Last year’s regular season clash between the two sides was called off at half-time when a massive lightning storm hit Pretoria. Province held a dominant position before the fixture was called off leading 34-7 with 40-minutes having been played.
The duo met again in the semi-finals with the Bulls producing something of a shock by holding their much-vaunted opponents to a 32-32 regular time draw. Province would go on to win the game 35-32 in extra time, however.
Verdict: Western Province 4/10
We could well be in for yet another cracking game this year as both sides have some extremely talented young backs who love having a go with ball-in-hand. Hopefully, the weather gods play ball this time around and we get a full 80-minutes in.
I fancy the hosts to claim the spoils here but not by more than eight points.
