Griquas host the Pumas in the 2026 Currie Cup final. We look back at the semifinals and keep an eye on all things betting-related ahead of the big clash in Kimberley.
Bet: Griquas v Pumas
Posted 12 September 09h30
2.5 units (1–5): Under 60.5 points at 0.94/1 with BetXchange
The handicap appears to have stabilised at around Griquas -12.5. Given that this is where I set the line, I’m not seeing any obvious value on the handicap.
Backing the unders in a Griquas home match is generally not recommended if you have a heart condition, but that is the way I’m going in the final.
Conditions should be good, but the Pumas are the sort of side who can draw teams into an arm-wrestle. I think that is what they will need to do against this Griquas team.
There is also a strong chance that, if Griquas get clear on the scoreboard, they begin playing a more tactical game. All we need for this bet to arrive is a quiet ten-minute period here and there.
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Pumas team announced, no points lines to be seen
Posted 11 Sep 23h43
The Pumas team has been announced
Pumas: 15 Jaycee Nel, 14 Darren Adonis, 13 Sango Xamashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Banie Britz, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Andre Goedhals, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Chyle van Zyl, 1 Etienne Janeke
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Zukisa Sali, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Stephan Krugel, 20 Ruwald van der Merwe, 21 Thabo Ndimande, 22 Tino Swanepoel, 23 Russwill Fredericks
The handicap ranges from -11.5 Griquas to -12.5 and I have yet to see a points line but predict total point at 59.5.
Griquas team announced
Posted 10 September 22h58
Here is the Griquas team named to take on the Pumas in this weekend’s Currie Cup final.
Griquas: 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Sako Makata, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Ig Prinsloo, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 Leon Lyons
Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Carl van der Merwe, 21 Jack Hart, 22 Liam Koen, 23 Connor Mahoney
The money continues to come steadily for the home side, who are now as high as -13.5 in places.
Money comes for the home team
Posted 09 September 21h46
Griquas have shortened from an opening handicap of -10.5 to -12.5, and even -13.5 in places.
I projected Griquas -11.5 and, at that line, was certainly leaning towards the hosts. It is therefore no surprise to see support arriving for the Kimberley-based team.
I’m still going to keep my powder dry for now, though, and wait for some of the other betting markets to be released.
Talking of dry, conditions look like being perfect in Kimberley on Saturday.
Betting Update: Griquas -11.5 v Pumas
Posted 08 September 21h34
I believe World Sports Betting opened their handicap at Griquas -10.5, but they have since moved the line out by a point to -11.5.
That is exactly where I set the handicap in my early projection. As you can imagine, there will be no early action from me, but I’ll be keeping an eye on the team news and some of the other markets as the weekend approaches.
Semifinal review
Griquas 52–12 Lions
Griquas opened as 7.5-point favourites and were backed out to -9.5 against the Lions. The total-points line was set at 57.5, and I was a little nervous of the overs in what didn’t look like particularly good conditions.
My bet was Griquas -9.5, and it never looked in trouble as they stormed out of the blocks and blew the Lions away. There were 64 points scored on the day (despite conditions), but fortunately there was no need to worry about the total, with Griquas comfortably covering the handicap to deliver profits.
Cheetahs 24–27 Pumas
This was the bigger of my two Currie Cup bets, and I went under 56.5 points because I expected a tight game and the conditions didn’t look particularly good.
The rain largely stayed away but, with the Cheetahs leading 10–3 at halftime, I was already banking my profits. As so often happens in these situations, though, I was left hanging on towards the end and was very relieved when the final whistle went with the total finishing on 51 points.
The Cheetahs had ranged from -7.5 to -9.5 so this was an upset win for the Pumas.
Griquas v Pumas final
Griquas were far too strong for the Pumas in Nelspruit a couple of weeks ago, winning 38–14.
My projected handicap for the final is:
Griquas -11.5 v Pumas
I wouldn’t be surprised if the line opens slightly lower. However, I would then expect money to arrive for Griquas, with the hosts potentially starting as 11- or 12-point favourites by kick-off.
I’ll be back with all the early betting movement once the bookmakers release their odds.
