Rugby punters once again have midweek Currie Cup to look forward to and we take a look at all 3 of the games from a betting angle.
WESTERN PROVINCE v PUMAS
Both of these teams are in trouble having only won 1 out of 5 matches and with a big gap developing to 4th place Griquas, victory here is essential if either of these sides want to have further say in the competition.
Western Province were away at the Free State Cheetahs last week going down 24-17 and in their two home games this season they beat the Lions by 12 points and lost to the Bulls by 19 points.
The Pumas are coming off a bye and prior to that they went down 24-10 at home to the Sharks. They have played two away games this season losing by 21 points at the Griquas and thrashing the Lions by 41 points in Johannesburg.
In last season’s Currie Cup these sides played out a 40-40 draw in Cape Town.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Western Province 3/10
Draw 25/1
Pumas 16/5
Handicap: Western Province (-8.5)
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Pumas (+8.5) at 9/10
I am not convinced by this Western Province Currie Cup side and the Pumas have shown me enough on the road this season to suggest they can keep this close.
SHARKS v FREE STATE CHEETAHS
The Sharks are currently 3rd on the log with 4 wins and 1 loss in their 5 starts. That loss came in their last match away at the Bulls when they went down 35-21 and at home this season they have beaten Western Province by 15 and Griquas by a point.
The Cheetahs are currently top of the table with a 100% record after 5 matches. Their last game was that 7 point win at home against Western Province and on the road this season they have beaten the Pumas by 11 and the Bulls by 13 points. The Sharks hosted the Cheetahs in the 2021 Currie Cup winning 38-31.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Sharks 31/20
Draw 22/1
Free State Cheetahs 5/8
Handicap: Sharks (+2.5)
Suggested Bet: Winning Margin, Cheetahs by 1-7 points inclusive at 27/10
I can see this being a very tight game, but my preference is for the Cheetahs to shade it against a Sharks side that looks strong, but that is impacted by the URC players that are unavailable.
GOLDEN LIONS v BLUE BULLS
The Lions are bottom of the table without a win in 5 matches. Their last match took place in Kimberly when they went down 49-17 to the Griquas, their second successive heavy defeat having lost by 52 points to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in Round 5. At home this season they have lost to the Pumas by 41 and the Sharks by 12.
The Bulls are currently 2nd on the Currie Cup log with 4 wins and 1 loss in their 5 matches. They looked good in beating the Sharks 35-21 in wet conditions in Round 6. That was their second successive win having beaten the Griquas 53-27 in Kimberley. That win in Kimberley was their third away win of the season having also beaten Western Province by 19 and the Pumas by 14 points.
When the Lions hosted the Bulls last season in the Currie Cup it finished 21-48 to the Bulls.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Golden Lions 7/1
Draw 35/1
Blue Bulls 1/9
Handicap: Golden Lions (+14.5)
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Blue Bulls (-14.5) at 19/20
The Lions URC team appears to have turned the corner, but I am not convinced the Currie Cup team has done the same and I can see them heading for another heavy defeat.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
