The 2026 Currie Cup continues this weekend and, as always, we keep an eye on all things betting-related.
Bet: Stormers XXIII v Cheetahs
Posted 09 August 12h41
Bet: 2 units (1–5) – Over 53.5 points at 0.87/1 with World Sports Betting.
I priced this game at Stormers +5.5, and that's pretty much where the market is sitting at the moment. The Stormers were as big as +9.5 in the early betting but are currently trading at around +6.5.
The total points line is 53.5 or 54.5, depending on your bookmaker, and I find myself leaning towards the overs in what should be good conditions.
The disclaimer, of course, is that it's been a pretty poor weekend so far, with a few of my overs bets falling short of the mark. Nevertheless, I'm going to dip my feet in one more time and hope we finally get the points flowing.
Over 53.5 points is the play.
Bet: Sharks XV v Boland Cavaliers
Posted 08 August 15h56
Bet: 2 units (1–5) – Over 54.5 points at 5/6 with World Sports Betting.
The Currie Cup is not going well for me this weekend, and I'm sorely tempted just to sit this game out. There's not a lot of other sport on to watch, though, so I'm going to have a play.
Conditions look good and, from the forecasts I've seen, the humidity should be relatively low. Hopefully that sets the game up for plenty of attacking rugby and points.
If pushed I would be on the Sharks minus 2.5 here, but I don't want to get too involved in the game, so I'll leave the match result alone and stick with the points play.
Over 54.5 points is the bet.
Bet: Bulls XV v Ford Pumas
Posted 08 August 08h24
Bet: 2 units (1–5) – Bulls XV to win at 5/2 with World Sports Betting.
The Bulls are +6.5 on the handicap, with the total points line set at 62.5 at Loftus. Conditions should be perfect for rugby, but I think the points line is pretty well set, so I'm going to turn my attention to the match result and handicap markets instead.
The Bulls have been poor to date, but I'm expecting some improvement at home. The Pumas picked up a good win against the Cavaliers last week, although they look a little more inconsistent than we've become accustomed to in recent seasons.
In the interests of transparency, I don't know many of the players taking to the field, but at 5/2 I'm going to put my faith in home-ground advantage and back a desperate Bulls side to pick up their first win of the season.
Bet: Griquas v Lions
Posted 08 August 08h00
Bet: 2.5 units (1–5) – Over 62.5 points at 1.86 with PokerBet.
I've been waiting patiently for the points lines to come out and, while plenty of bookmakers are still yet to price them up, I see PokerBet have now gone up.
This has been a pretty even betting contest throughout the week, with Griquas now settled as narrow 1.5-point favourites. Earlier in the week I fancied the Lions quite strongly to win this game, but I'm less confident about that now, so I'm going to look to the points market instead.
Both teams have been playing attractive rugby this season and, on a hard Kimberley field in what looks set to be perfect conditions, with some cloud around but no rain and I'm expecting the points to flow.
Over 62.5 points is the play.
Bookies Running Scared?
Posted 08 August 07h52
It's Saturday morning and we have three Currie Cup games taking place later today, but I haven't seen a total points line available for any of them yet.
For that reason, I'm holding back on a bet for now.
I'll certainly be looking to bounce back from a poor Friday night, where the All Blacks let me down badly in Cape Town!
Handicaps are out
Posted 06 August 21h48
The handicaps have been out for a while but I am crazy busy at work and only got a chance to look now - bookies handicaps in brackets next to mine
Griquas +2.5 (-1.5) v Lions
Blue Bulls +7.5 (+8.5) v Pumas
Sharks XV -9.5 (-3.5) v Boland
Stormers XXIII +5.5 (+9.5) v Cheetahs
A few differences and the bet I like is the Lions although money has come for Griquas I believe so I will sit tight for now.
Week 4 Handicap Projections
Posted 04 August 07h17
Here are my handicap projections for the weekend
Griquas +2.5 v Lions
Blue Bulls +7.5 v Pumas
Sharks XV -9.5 v Boland
Stormers XXIII +5.5 v Cheetahs
Week 3 Review
Griquas 24 Cheetahs 21
I got on the Griquas early doors at just under even money, and while it took a while for the money to come, they eventually started as 4.5-point favourites. Griquas led quite comfortably deep into the match but had to hang on for a three-point victory. That meant punters who took Griquas outright when the betting opened and then Cheetahs +4.5 on game day landed the middle and I was just relieved to get off to a strong start.
Stormers XXIII 36 Sharks XV 28
I'd made the Sharks favourites for this game, so jumped on them when the early betting came out. The market remained fairly stable throughout the week, but while the Sharks had their moments, they made far too many errors against a Stormers side that impressed on the day. The final eight-point margin probably flattered the Sharks a little.
Lions 42 Blue Bulls 19
The Lions started as 17.5-point favourites and comfortably covered the handicap. I decided to put myself through all sorts of torture by taking under 67.5 points, and in the end it was another winning under where I was simply hanging on and hoping for the final whistle.
Boland Cavaliers 15 Ford Pumas 20
Boland were 14.5-point favourites for this one, and the Pumas plus were the second leg of my newsletter double (click here to get my free weekly newsletter). Rather than backing them again in the blog, I opted for Pumas over 22.5 team points. It looked promising at half-time, but it turned into a very low-scoring affair and, in hindsight, I wish I'd simply sat back and cheered the Pumas +14.5 home.
Table Update
Three rounds have been completed and the Lions head the standings on 12 points after their convincing win over the Blue Bulls. Griquas and the Cheetahs are hot on their heels with 11 points apiece, while Boland Cavaliers and Stormers XXIII both have 9 points after winning two of their opening three matches.
The Ford Pumas moved off the bottom of the table with their win in Wellington and now sit on 7 points, just ahead of the Sharks XV on 6. The Blue Bulls remain winless after three rounds and prop up the standings with a solitary bonus point.
With just three points separating second and fifth, the race for the semi-final places is already beginning to take shape.
Week 4 Fixtures
Saturday, 8 August 2026
- Griquas v Lions – Griqua Park, Kimberley
- Blue Bulls v Ford Pumas – Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
- Sharks XV v Boland Cavaliers – Princess Magogo Stadium, KwaMashu
Sunday, 9 August 2026
- Stormers XXIII v Cheetahs – Athlone Stadium, Cape Town
I'll update this blog with my projected handicaps early in the week
