Currie Cup Week 7, Preview and Tips

We have reached the final round of Currie Cup action and have 5 teams playing for 4 semi-final spots. We look back at the Week 6 action before turning our attention to the Week 7 fixtures, with handicap projections, team news, weather updates, and of course a betting angle for each match.

NOTE: The Handicap is live at 15h00 and will cover Rugby Champs, Currie Cup and WRWC – click here to watch and set a reminder on You Tube

SEMI-FINALS DECIDED
Posted 7 Sep 09h28 

It was a poor weekend for me with 3 close shaves and 1 blowout - the semifinal-blog will be up later today. 

The semi's are 

Lions v Cavaliers 

Griquas v Cheetahs 

BET: BULLS v CHEETAHS 
Posted 06 Sep 12h29
2 units Bulls over 5.5 tries at 11/10 at Sportingbet 
This handicap has moved from -9.5 Bulls to -13.5 
They have named a strong team with plenty of URC players but the Cheetahs while into the last 4 may well be able to play for 2nd or even top spot here depending on earlier results. 
I see plenty of tries in this one especially from the Bulls. 
Their points line is 37.5 but I don't see 3 pointers so better to take over 5.5 tries at 11/10 

BET: LIONS v GRIQUAS 
Posted 06 Sep 12h23
Bet: 3 units Griquas over 3.5 tries at 8/10 at Sportingbet 
This handicap opened -12.5 Lions but there is now -11.5 and -10.5 on offer. 
The points line is 61.5. 
Both teams are guaranteed a spot in the final 4 but Griquas can guarantee themselves top spot with a win here and the Lions can put themselves top with a good chance of finishing there with a convincing win. 
I have mulled over a few bets here and have settled on Griquas over 3.5 tries at 8/10. 
I am also considering a Griquas win play at around 34/10 but will post that bet in the forum if I take it. 

BET: WP V BOLAND 

Posted 06 Sep 11h53

2 units over 9.5 tries at 11/10 at Pokerbet 

This handicap has pushed out from -7.5 to 10.5 WP and there is even some -12.5 on offer. 

The points line is 62.5. 

Conditions look good and with a loaded WP team and a hungry Boland team I am expecting plenty of tries. 

Over 62.5 is an option but I am not expecting 3 pointers (Boland could prove me wrong) and I am going over 9.5 tries at 11/10 

BETTING UPDATE 

Posted 06 Sep 11h43

The Pumas dropped me last night and it was annoying as they had every chance to win that one. 

3 games today and here is the latest betting and weather

WP -10.5 (-12.5 in places) v Boland, Points 62.5, weather cloudy, dry, late teens temp, humidity 60's 

Lions -10.5 v Griquas, Points 61.5, weather cloudy, dry, temp early 20's, humidity in 40's 

Bulls  -13.5 v Cheetahs, Points 60.5, weather cloudy, possible showers, temp mid teens, humidity 60's 

Money for Bulls, Griquas and WP based on small line movements, bets to follow 

BET: SHARKS V PUMAS 

Posted 05 Sep 14h05

0.5 units Half Time/Full Time Sharks/Pumas at 8.80/1 at Betxchange 

2 units Pumas win at 18/10 at Betxchange 

The Sharks have names a strong team and are -4.5 on most books at the time of writing. 

Total points are set at 58.5 and I certainly won't be going overs in Durban although the weather looks decent. 

The question for punters is how big a difference the URC players will make. 

There is no question the Sharks have more quality but given they are targeting the URC season will they be as battle hardened as the Pumas and given the Pumas are still in the Currie Cup semi's contention will taht motivation be enough to keep them in the contest. 

I think a hungry Pumas side can get the win although they may have to come from behind to do it. 

SATURDAY HANDICAPS ARE UP 

Posted 05 Sep 13h19 

With teams announced all handicaps are up. No real value in comparing with my early handicaps as URC players have been introduced into quite a few teams. 

The question for punters is how big a difference these players will make? 

Below the current handicaps 

Sharks -5.5 vs Pumas – bet on this game to follow
Western Province -7.5 vs Boland
Lions -12.5 vs Griquas 
Bulls -11.5 vs Cheetahs 

CURRIE CUP OUTRIGHT BETTING

Posted 5 Sep 11h40

Sportingbet have Currie Cup outright odds

Lions 8/11

Boland 9/2

Griquas 5/1

Cheetahs 13/2

Pumas 9/1

Given Boland play a strong WP team I am surprised they are shorter than Griquas in the betting.

Week 7 Caps

Updated 4th Sep 16:00

Sharks -4.5 v Pumas

Line Ups for Week 7

Updated 5th Sep 12:30

Friday 5th September

Sharks v Pumas

Sharks: 15 Yaw Penxe, 14 Phikolomzi Sobahle, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Paschal Ekeji, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka (captain), 6 Manu Tshituka, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Batho Hlekani, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane
Replacements: 16 Jacques Marais, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Jaco Williams

Pumas: 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Lundi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Ross Braude (vice captain), 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 Hanno Theunissen, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Dewald Maritz.
Replacements: 16 Darnelle Osuagwu, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Junior Banda, 19 JJ Scheepers, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Russwill Fredericks, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Andrew Kota

Saturday 6th September

Western Province v Cavaliers

Western Province: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Cabous Eloff, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Wandisile Simelane

Cavaliers: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Donavan Don, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Xavier Mitchell, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Sauliegh Arendse, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper
Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Mthokozisi Gumede, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Jurie van Vuuren, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Erik Lambrecht, 23 Jayden Bantom

Lions v Griquas

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smit, 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 Jonkeer

Griquas: 15 Connor Mahoney, 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 Gustav du Rand, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Johan Louw, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Marco de Witt, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Tom Nel, Cameron Hufke

Bulls v Cheetahs

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 David Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Alfonso Isaacs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier,8 Abri van der Westhuizen, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Jaco Grobbelaar, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Alu Tshekwani
Replacements: 16 Juann Else,17 Ruan Swart, 18 Francois Klopper,19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet,22 Harold Vorster, 23 Stedman Gans

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Janse van Vuren, 12 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Franco Smith, 9 Jandre 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 Raegan Oranje, 22 Banie Britz, 23 Michael Annies

🏉 Currie Cup Round 6 Recap & Bets

Posted 01 Sep

Western Province 13–39 Pumas

• Bet: 2 units Pumas under 5.5 tries at 17/20 ✅
  The Pumas dotted down 5 tries as they finished fast but the bet landed.

Sharks 33–31 Boland

• Bet: 2 units Sharks win at 1.88/1 ✅
  The Sharks edged Boland with a last-minute penalty in Pietermaritzburg, rewarding the value call.

Lions 44–5 Bulls

• Bet: 3 units over 9.5 tries at 1/1 ❌
  Despite the Lions’ dominance, only 7 tries were scored - well short of the line.

Cheetahs 10–40 Griquas

• Bet: 2 units Griquas to win at 43/20 ✅
  The Griquas put in a superb away display, crushing the Cheetahs in Bloem and delivering a tidy return. I am also sitting tight on my Griquas 25/1 ticket

📊 Betting Results (Round 6)

• Pumas under 5.5 tries ✅ (+1.7u)

• Sharks win ✅ (+3.76u)

• Lions over 9.5 tries ❌ (-3u)

• Griquas win ✅ (+4.3u)

Net Result: +6.76 units 🔥

📈 Currie Cup Standings (after Round 6)

1. Suzuki Griquas – 25 pts

2. Sanlam Boland Kavaliers – 23 pts

3. Fidelity ADT Lions – 21 pts

4. Toyota Cheetahs – 21 pts

5. Airlink Pumas – 20 pts

6. Vodacom Bulls – 10 pts

7. Hollywoodbets Sharks – 10 pts

8. DHL Western Province – 1 pt

There are 5 teams playing for 4 places and the big fixture is Lions v Griquas.

🔮 Round 7 Fixtures (Final Pool Round) and Projected Handicaps

• Sharks +7.5 vs Pumas – 5 Sep, Kings Park, Durban

• Western Province +5.5 vs Boland – 6 Sep, Cape Town

• Lions -6.5 vs Griquas – 6 Sep, Ellis Park

• Bulls +9.5 vs Cheetahs – 6 Sep, Loftus

The bookies are generally only out with handicaps late Thursday and I will be back to compare with my lines and also look at weather and team news.