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| Curwin Bosch tries to evade a tackle from Ox Nche |
The penultimate set of Currie Cup fixtures get underway on Friday the 16 of August. Darry Worthington previews the three Round 6 fixtures below.
The 2019 Currie Cup has been full of shocks and last week was no different with the Sharks pulling off a famous win in Durban over the in-form Cheetahs and the hapless Bulls somehow beating the Lions in Johannesburg. The only result that didn’t buck the upset trend was Western Province’s routine victory over the Pumas.
With the race for semi-final berths tighter than ever, this weekend’s penultimate set of round-robin fixtures should not be missed.
Copyright Steve Haag Sport Hollywoodbets
*Odd to be added upon release
Griquas v Western Province
Friday 16 August
Tafel Larger Park
19:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Griquas
Draw
Western Province
Handicap
Griquas
Western Province
Current log-leaders, the Griquas, could secure a guaranteed semi-final berth and remain in contention for a home semi-final should they beat Western Province this Saturday. The men from Griqualand have given a stellar account of themselves this term winning three of their four fixtures with their latest victory being a 15-37 away win over the Bulls. Their only defeat thus far came away to the Cheetahs.
Western Province kept their semi-final hosting hopes alive with a solid 45-14 victory over the Pumas last weekend. The men from the Western Cape were slightly guilty of taking their foot off the gas during the second-half of the aforementioned encounter and will need to play for the entire 80 if they are to get one over a Griquas side that will be extremely fired up in front of their home fans.
Verdict: Western Province
I would personally love to see the Griquas take this one but I feel they may come up just short against a Western Province side who are on the hunt for a bonus-point win.
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Pumas v Free State XV
Saturday 17 August
Mbombela Stadium
19:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Pumas
Draw
Free State
Handicap
Pumas
Free State
The Free State Cheetahs will be looking to bounce back from their last-minute defeat to the Sharks when they take on a Pumas side who have nothing but pride to play for.
The visitors missed up on a great chance to go top of the log last weekend as they went down 27-20 to the Sharks in Durban. It was a dramatic defeat, to say the leas,t with the Cheetahs camped deep inside the Sharks half with little time to play. A turnover led to Sharks winger Kobus van Wyk running in a long-range try, in the 78th-minute, which handed the Cheetahs their second defeat of the season.
Like the Cheetahs, the Pumas also suffered a Round 5 defeat going down by 31 points to Western Province. That was fourth fifth defeat of the season and they would have to beat the Cheetahs in order to avoid finishing season with only one win as they have a bye in the final week.
Verdict: Cheetahs
This could well be a high-scoring thriller with little pressure on the Pumas and the Cheetahs in desperate need of a bonus-point win. My money is on the visitors winning a fast-paced affair by more than 14 points.
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Lions v Sharks
Sunday 18 August
Emirates Airline Park
14:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Lions
Draw
Sharks
Handicap
Lions
Sharks
The Lions and Sharks will square off at Emirates Airline Park in the final game of the round on Sunday the 18th of August. This game will be of vital importance with the Lions needing a win to remain in the hunt for top spot on the log and the Sharks needing a win to get in amongst the semi-final qualifying berths.
`Last weekend saw a contrast in fortunes for both sides with the Lions going down to a 14-man Bull side 26-31 and the Sharks betting the Cheetahs 27-20.
Verdict: Lions
Last week was a very disappointing one for the Lions who failed to produce with ball-in-hand. I cant see that happening two weeks in a row. As such, I’m on the hosts to bounce back with a win between four and eight points.
