Western Province hosts the Pumas in Cape Town, Griquas travel to Potchefstroom to play the Leopards and we try our best to make money out of both games.

Leopards v Griquas

To the average rugby fan the late tries by the Leopards last week meant very little. The winning margin simply moved from 29 to 19 points but for handicap punters there was plenty at stake and with WP a very popular selection at anything from -22 to -26 it was the bookmakers who were dreaming sweetly while punters were tossing and turning on Friday night.

The Leopards have now got up in the handicap in their last 2 matches both courtesy of very late tries but they will be hoping to make a better start against the Griquas who only pipped them by a point (33-34) in this fixture last year. They have been forced into some team changes through injury and likely suspension (the hearing takes place Thursday) and they look a bit thin on the ground heading into week 4.

Griquas have started the season with 3 handicap wins on the trot (they went 6/6 last year before falling the wrong side of the line) and they have tinkered with the team but nothing that should affect the balance of the side that came back to beat the Lions by 6 last week.

BETTING

Leopards 3/1 at Betxchange, World Sports Betting and Victor Chandler
Draw 28/1 at Betxchange
Griquas 7/20 at Betxchange, World Sports Betting and Victor Chandler

Handicap

Leopards -10 at 9/10 tie no bet with Betxchange

Griquas +10.5 at 9/10 with World Sports Betting and Victor Chandler

Note a number of bookmakers had still to price up at the time of writing

BETTING ANGLE

The Leopards have plenty of heart but as the season goes on they are going to look more and more vulnerable. I think the Griquas will get the handicap but will save my fire for the spreads markets where depending on quotes I will look to buy shirt numbers and points either for the match or individual teams. In both home matches this season the Leopards have conceded 40 points and this is in line with the 37 points average concession (Boland game excluded) last season. In short there should be plenty of tries and points in this one and I post any bets on this thread in our forum.

Western Province v Pumas

As mentioned above WP are hardly the darling of your average South African handicap punter after last week and they once again start massive favourites this time at their home ground.

They welcome back Aplon and De Jonge from the Boks squad, Hoffman gets a run at 9 and Liebenberg is in for the injured Fourie at hooker.

The Pumas have proven adept at beating big handicaps and they did so again when given a 29 point start and only a 10 point beating by the Sharks last week. They have yet to name their team and are waiting on the availability of a couple of their forwards who are carrying injuries.

Last time these sides met in the Currie Cup WP won 43-10 but that was way back in 2006.

BETTING

The Pumas are 40/1 to cause an upset and WP are too short even for the most conservative multiples punter.

Handicap
Western Province -26.5 at 9/10 with World Sports Betting

Pumas +29 at 9/10 tie no bet with Betxchange

BETTING ANGLE

The lads on the forum are leaning towards the Pumas on the cap (as was Sean Nicholas in the weekends Rugby Podcast) and unfortunately I am going to be going against the majority of them this week. I really like the look of this WP team and with De Waal there to hoover up the points and some exciting backs outside of him I am on them at -26.5 as my Currie Cup bet of the weekend. The Pumas have acquitted themselves well but I have a feeling they are about to crack and a 30+ win for WP is my call.

BET: 5 units WP -26.5 at 9/10 with World Sports Betting

Saturday’s previews will be posted in our Rugby section and you can click here for our Wallabies v Boks preview.

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BEST BET
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