We are down to the final 4 in the Currie Cup and in this blog we take a look at the final round of regular season action and look ahead focusing on betting angles and including handicap projections, betting updates, weather, team news and finally a bet in each game.
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BET: GRIQUAS v CHEETAHS
Posted 13 Sep 11h31
3 units under 62.5 points at 0.96/1 at Betxchange
The handicap remains -6.5 although there is some variety amongst the bookies.
I would love to see the Griquas keep my 25/1 ticket alive but won't get involved on the handicap.
The points line is 62.5 and I think that is a bit high.
This is a semi-final and while both teams play attractive rugby I expect the team ahead to try and slow things down at some point.
I also haven't seen a night game in Kimberley for a while and wonder if the lights will be as good as at Loftus for example? There are also potential storms and for me unders has to be the play.
Looking at the Lions game I see they are -21.5 and the points line is 64.5 which I also think is high.
Given my involvement in the Lions -12.5 I am unlikely to get further involved though.
BETTING UPDATE
Posted 12 Sep 23h58
The money has poured onto the Lions now -21.5 from that opening line of -12.5. I am happy with my position there and will wait for points lines before getting further involved.
The Cheetahs are into +5.5 although still +6.5 in places. I am also waiting for points lines in that one,
WEATHER AND BETTING UPDATES
Posted 12 Sep 08h20
Here is the latest betting as well as the current weather forecasts
Lions -16.5 v Boland, cloudy, low 20's, possible showers, humidity early 30's - click here for updates
Griquas -6.5 v Cheetahs, cloudy, should be dry, humidity in 50's, temp around 19 degrees - click here for updates
Bets to follow
BET: LIONS v BOLAND (Early Play)
Posted 10 Sep 19h59
5 units Lions -12.5 at 9/10 at Betxchange
There is a 13 point difference between my handicap (-25.5) v the Bookies (-12.5)
I have had a crazy week so have not seen any news on what sort of team the Lions will field but I don't see this handicap moving below -12.5 (even without URC players) and am getting on early as suspect it will go the other way.
Currie Cup Handicaps
Posted 10 Sep 19h50
The lines are out and in brackets next to my predictions
Golden Lions -25.5 (-12.5) v Boland Cavaliers
Griquas -6.5 (-6.5) v Free State Cheetahs
A massive 12 points difference in the Lions game.
Currie Cup Semi Finals Line Ups
Updated 12th Sept 12:00
Golden Lions v Boland Cavaliers
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 PJ Botha (captain), 1 SJ Kotze
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Rynhardt Jonker
Cavaliers: 15 James Tedder, 14 Xavier Mitchell, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Jayden Bantom, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Khwezi Mafu, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Ameer Hendricks, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede.
Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Michael Benadie, 20 Jurie van Vuuren, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Erik Lambrecht
Griquas v Cheetahs
Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelenedaba, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Caleb Abrahams, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Carl Els, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 2 Cebo Dlamini (captain), 2 Janco Uys, 1 Eddie Davids.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 IG Prinsloo, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Marco de Witt, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Tom Nel, Connor Mahoney
Cheetahs: 15 Michael Annies, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Janse van Vuren, 12 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Jandré Nel, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Pierre Raymond Uys, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Juan Venter, 3 Frankie Dos Reis, 2 Marko Jansen van Rensburg, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Tielman Niewoudt, 18 John Kelly Okonkwo, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Banie Britz
Bets Recap – Round 7
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Sharks v Pumas
Bets: 0.5 units Sharks/Pumas HT/FT at 8.80/1 (Betxchange) ❌ | 2 units Pumas win at 18/10 (Betxchange) ❌
The Sharks edged home 19–13 thanks to their URC reinforcements and the bets went down. -
Western Province v Boland
Bet: 2 units Over 9.5 tries at 11/10 (Pokerbet) ❌
WP saved their best performance for last with a 40–22 win, but the match only produced 9 tries and the last 5 minutes saw a good few opportunities butchered. -
Lions v Griquas
Bet: 3 units Griquas over 3.5 tries at 8/10 (Sportingbet) ❌
The Lions turned on the style, winning 37–7 and restricting Griquas to a single try. -
Bulls v Cheetahs
Bet: 2 units Bulls over 5.5 tries at 11/10 (Sportingbet) ❌
A high-scoring affair at Loftus saw the Bulls cross for 5 tries in a 35–31 win. This bet looked a winner for all money but a Bulls red card saw their try scoring dry up.
? Summary: After a profitable Currie Cup to date I came down to earth with no winners.
Final Standings (after Round 7)
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Lions – 26 pts (5W, 2L)
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Griquas – 25 pts (5W, 2L)
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Cheetahs – 23 pts (4W, 3L)
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Boland – 23 pts (4W, 3L)
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Pumas – 21 pts
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Bulls – 15 pts
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Sharks – 14 pts
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Western Province – 6 pts
The top four head to the semi-finals, with Lions finishing top of the pile thanks to a convincing win over Griquas.
Semi-Finals Fixtures and projected handicaps – 13 September 2025
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Golden Lions -25.5 v Boland Cavaliers – Ellis Park, Johannesburg
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Griquas -6.5 v Cheetahs – Griqua Park, Kimberley
Team news will be important and I am assuming the Lions will field a similar strength team to this past weekend