After some nail-biting matchups on the opening weekend, there’s plenty to play for in the second round of the Currie Cup this weekend.
Friday 12 July
Griquas 47/20 | Draw 22/1 | Hollywoodbets Sharks 36/100 (15:00)
Handicap
Griquas (+8.5) 9/10 | Hollywoodbets Sharks (-8.5) 9/10
The Griquas will need a big improvement if they’re to get a result over a Sharks side brimming with youthful exuberance. The hosts fell 24-44 at home to the Pumas in round one, and while they will certainly ask the Durbanites questions on Kimberley’s infamous rock-hard pitch, victory will be a tough ask.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks lost by a single point in last week’s Hollywoodbets Kings Park thriller against the Lions but the debut of Trevor Nyakane at tighthead and return of Aphelele Fassi, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Phepsi Buthelezi this week spells doom and gloom for Griquas.
Verdict: Sharks (-8.5) 9/10
The Sharks will be too strong for Griquas on Friday. A single-digit handicap – even up in the Northern Cape – is too good to pass up for the Bok-laden Sharks outfit. Get on!
Pumas 26/100 | Draw 22/1 | Lions 31/10 (19:00)
Handicap
Pumas (-9.5) 9/10 | Lions (+9.5) 9/10
The Pumas have started brightly in putting their arch-foes Griquas to the sword in Kimberley last week and now turn their attention to a greater challenge in the Lions. Jimmy Stonehouse’s troops will have the Mbombela support behind them for this one, which should give them a boost as they look to contain an action-packed Joburg outfit.
Edwill van der Merwe returns on the right wing while Morne van den Berg takes up a spot on the bench as coach Mziwakhe Nkosi gets back some his MVPs from the Springbok squad. The Pumas are always tricky customers at home, but the Lions have too much firepower.
Verdict: Lions 31/10
The Lions look unreal value at 31/10.
Saturday 13 July
Cheetahs 1/3 | Draw 25/1 | Western Province 24/10 (13:55)
Handicap
Cheetahs (-9.5) 9/10 | Province (+9.5) 9/10
The Cheetahs eased into their Currie Cup campaign in an 82-20 annihilation of Griffons in Bloemfontein last week but will face a much sterner test on Saturday. Coach Izak van der Westhuizen has some proper talent in his ranks again this season with the Free Staters set to be well in contention to defend their title.
WP will have to put their 25-30 round one loss to the Bulls in Cape Town behind them and instead draw positives from the fact that they managed to secure two losing bonus points from that encounter. This challenge in the City of Roses may be too much for them though.
Verdict: Cheetahs (-9.5) 9/10
The Cheetahs to win comfortably on Saturday.
Sunday 14 July
Griffons 18/1 | Draw 33/1 | Blue Bulls N/A (14:00)
Handicap TBA
Should the Griffons be competing in the premier division of the Currie Cup? They’ll hope their 60-point drubbing at the hands of the defending champions in Bloemfontein last week is as bad as it gets this season as they look to make their time in the topflight count for something.
If the Blue Bulls play like they did in their win over Western Province in Cape Town, they should have no trouble bringing up the half-century in Welkom.
Verdict: Bulls on the minus
The Bulls to canter to a BP win.
