The Hollywoodbets Sharks will look to keep the winning momentum going against the Pumas in Mbombela, while the Blue Bulls are in Bloemfontein, the Griffons travel to the Mother City and the Golden Lions are in Kimberley in the fifth round of the Currie Cup.
Friday 2 August
Free State Cheetahs 15/10 | Draw 25/1 | Blue Bulls 5/10 (17:00)
Handicap
Cheetahs (+4.5) 17/20 | Bulls (-4.5) 17/20
Defeat for the Cheetahs on Friday will see the Bulls pull away on the overall log standings. The defending champions are currently second, three points off their opponents this week and can ill afford to fall further off the pace given how congested the table is heading into the weekend. In the recent reverse fixture, it was the Bulls that won 25-13 at Loftus, but the Bloemfontein crowd should lift the Cheetahs in their efforts.
The men from Pretoria are the only remaining side left unbeaten after coming back from 24 points down against Western Province last week. The way things are now, they’re looking likely to go deep into the tournament and will back themselves to pick up their second win over the Cheetahs this season.
Verdict: Cheetahs 15/10
It will be another close call but get on the Cheetahs to come away with the goods.
Saturday 3 August
Pumas 7/20 | Draw 25/1 | Hollywoodbets Sharks 22/10 (15:00)
Handicap
Pumas | Sharks *tba
The Pumas won 31-21 at Hollywoodbets Kings Park just a fortnight ago, having led 24-0 at halftime, and will feel they have the elements to pull off a similar result at home. Jimmy Stonehouse’s men are third overall, level on points (15) with the second-placed Cheetahs and will want to maintain the heat on the front-runners ahead of their trip to Johannesburg next week.
In many ways, the Sharks’ win over the Lions in the previous round – their first of the competition – got a monkey off their backs. It will be interesting to see how they follow that up in Mbombela, with a successive victory likely to spur them on even further and a loss potentially stopping their momentum in its tracks. Given what the young side produced in Joburg, there is reason to believe they have indeed turned a corner and can come up with the goods.
Verdict: Sharks to win
The Durbanites to earn a narrow win.
Western Province 1/100 | Draw 40/1 | Griffons 14/1 (17:15)
Handicap
Province | Griffons *tba
Sixth-placed Western Province’s 34-50 defeat at Loftus last week was their third of the campaign, leaving them with plenty of work to do put themselves in a position to fight for the title. That said, they should have enough in the locker to collect five log points on Saturday.
Considering the Griffons trailed by 33-0 at a stage in their round four clash with the defending champion Cheetahs, a final defeat of just 47-45 speaks volumes for the character in the size: particularly considering their rotten results heading into the fixture. Whether that showing can lift them to a big performance in the Cape remains to be seen, but one would have to back WP to run out convincing winners.
Verdict: WP on the minus
Tough on the Griffons perhaps, but WP are surely expected to pick up a comfortable win.
Sunday 4 August
Griquas 24/10 | Draw 25/1 | Golden Lions 3/10 (15:00)
Handicap
Griquas | Lions *tba
The seventh-placed hosts are just one from four after a rough start to a campaign that already looks unlikely to go beyond the regular season. Heading into this one off the back of a 40-point loss in Mbombela against a Lions team eager to bounce back from their shock loss to the Sharks, things aren’t getting any easier.
That latter 22-35 loss suffered by the Joburgers would have been a hard one to swallow given their impressive form so far in the competition. One would think they should have the hunger and desire to get back to winning ways in Kimberley.
Verdict: Lions 3/10
Get on the Pride to take home a narrow win.
