We have another shortened Currie Cup fixtures list with the Sharks game against the Bulls being called off due to security reasons. We kick things off in Johannesburg where the Lions will play host to the Griquas, with that fixture being followed by a clash between the Free State Cheetahs and Western Province in Bloemfontein.
Lions v Griquas
Wednesday 21 July
Emirates Airline Park
14:30
To Win (80 Mins)
Lions 1/3
Draw 25/1
Griquas 22/10
Handicap
Lions (-7.5) 9/10
Griquas (+7.5) 9/10
The Lions will finally take to the field again having last played against the British and Irish Lions a fortnight ago. Joburg’s pride were no match for the European tourists, going down 14-56.
In terms of the Lions’ Currie Cup campaign, the hosts for this Wednesday’s affair have only played two games thus far going down 39-10 to the Pumas in Round 1 before bouncing back in style with a 38-32 win over Western Province.
It’ll be interesting to whether or not there is space for Wandisile Simelane at 13 following his release from the Springboks’ camp. The exciting youngster possesses the type of x-factor that can turn a game on its head in an instant.
The Griquas have played double the amount of games as the Lions have but have the same win-loss ratio of 50% with the men from Kimberly beating the Cheetahs 31-10 and Western Province 28-20. Their two defeats came at the hands of the Pumas (26-22) and the Sharks (16-30).
Verdict: Griquas (+7.5)
I’m expecting a rather open affair here with both teams knowing the route to the try line. I fancy the Griquas to keep it close in what is likely to be a high-scoring affair.
Cheetahs v Western Province
Wednesday 21 July
Free State Stadium
16:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Cheetahs 15/10
Draw 22/1
Province 5/10
Handicap
Cheetahs (+5.5) 9/10
Province (-5.5) 9/10
We make the trip to Bloemfontein next where the Cheetahs will be looking to kick-start their season and move off the foot of the Currie Cup table.
The visitors – playing under the guise of the Stormers – were given a real rugby lesson by the British and Irish Lions this past Saturday evening as they went down 3-49 to the tourists.
While the defeat to the home nation’s finest isn’t damnation in itself, it does pile a bit of pressure on Province who have been extremely hit and miss since rugby returned to South African shores late last year. The men from the Cape sit atop the Currie Cup standings but have only won two of their four games – the two victories came against a youthful Bulls side (24-48) and the Sharks (32-31), while their defeats have come at the hands of the Griquas (28-30) and the Lions (38-32).
The Cheetahs meanwhile have only managed one win in their three matches so far, and even that was a skin-of-the-teeth affair against the Pumas a few weeks ago.
Verdict: Cheetahs (+5.5) 9/10
The Cheetahs should keep things competitive at the very least here. They were good value for their last win against the Pumas and will be looking to take advantage of a Province side that had the stuffing knocked out of them by the Lions.
