Round 4 of the 2019 Currie Cup will get underway with a clash on Friday the 2nd of August. Darry Worthington previews the action below.
Round 4 of the 2019 Currie Cup should be an absolute cracker with three all-important clashes taking place.
The weekend’s action gets underway on Friday evening where the tournaments two remaining unbeaten sides, the Free State Cheetahs and Golden Lions, will lock horns. It’s then on to Saturday’s doubleheader with the day’s first offering seeing the Pumas take on the Sharks. The round comes to a close out in Pretoria where the Bulls will tackle the Griquas.
Free State Cheetahs v Golden Lions
Friday 2 August
Toyota Free State Stadium
19:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Cheetahs 1/6
Draw 30/1
Lions 4/1
Handicap
Cheetahs (-14.5) 9/10
Lions (+14.5) 9/10
*Forecast Handicap
The tournament’s two form teams will collide out in Bloemfontein this Friday with the impressive Cheetahs hosting comeback kings, the Lions. The hosts followed up their 27-43 Round 2 victory over the Bulls with another impressive showing as they hammered the Griquas 68-14 last Saturday.
The Lions also enjoyed a productive Round 3 as they came from 21-10 down at half-time to run out 28-30 victors at Newlands. The impressive second-half comeback was spearheaded by former Springbok Under 20 Tyrone Green who scored a superb solo try to claim victory for his side.
Verdict: Lions (+14.5) 9/10 *Forecast Handicap
The Lions never say die attitude should keep them in the game for the majority of the piece but I simply cannot see them getting one over a Cheetahs side that looks a class above this term.
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Pumas v Sharks XV
Saturday 3 August
Mbombela Stadium
15:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Pumas 24/10
Draw 25/1
Sharks 3/10
Handicap
Pumas (+8.5) 9/10
Sharks (-8.5) 9/10
*Forecast Handicap
Saturday’s opener will see the winless Pumas take on a Sharks side who come into Round 4 off the back of a bye. The hosts suffered yet another narrow defeat last week going down 17-25 to the Blue Bulls. That loss followed another eight-point loss to the Griquas and a one-point defeat to the Lions.
The Sharks bounced back from their opening Round 13-27 loss to the Griquas with a solid display as they beat a much-fancied Western Province outfit 32-27 down in Durban in Round 2. Their moment could be somewhat stifled, however, as they sat last weekend out due to a bye.
Verdict: Sharks (-8.5) 9/10 *Forecast Handicap
The Natalians will be searching for a bonus-point win so as to keep them in the hunt for a home semi-final. I can see them delivering the goods against a Pumas side who will still be licking their wounds after three narrow defeats.
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Blue Bulls v Griquas
Saturday 3 August
Loftus Versfeld
17:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Bulls 4/10
Draw 22/1
Griquas 37/20
Handicap
Bulls (-7.5) 9/10
Griquas (+7.5) 9/10
*Forecast Handicap
The Bulls will be looking to build on the momentum they picked from their 17-25 victory over the Pumas when they take on a Griquas side who head into Round 4 off the back of a disappointing 68-14 loss to the Cheetahs.
The Griquas were guilty of missing a handful of chances last week and will need to be far more clinical this Saturday if they are to bag their third win of the campaign. The Bulls, on the other hand, will need to work on their discipline as they conceded numerous penalties against the Pumas last Friday evening.
Verdict: Griquas (+7.5) 9/10 *Forecast Handicap
The Bulls still have issues with their setpiece and until they rectify these facets of the game they will not put any sides away by a big margin.
