Currie Cup Predictions – Round 10

It’s do-or-die for the Pumas and Cheetahs as they fight it out for the final Currie Cup playoff berth in Nelspruit on Saturday.

Three of the four semi-finalists were confirmed last weekend and although the Lions (38) hold just a slender one-point lead over the Bulls (37), they’re expected to hold onto top spot as they play the winless Griffons (3) in Johannesburg on Friday.

The second-placed Bulls cannot be caught by the Sharks (31), who in turn are guaranteed to finish third regardless of the outcome of these two teams’ tussle in Durban on Sunday. That makes the catfight in Nelspruit a virtual quarterfinal with visiting Cheetahs on 25 points and the Pumas on 24.

Kicking off the final round of the regular season is the clash between Griquas and Western Province (both on 19) in Kimberley on Friday.

Griquas v Western Province

Friday, 6 September – 15:00

Out of the playoff picture, Griquas played like a team with nothing to lose last Friday and came away with a shock 44-31 win over the Cheetahs.

It wasn’t a case of them just throwing the ball around either as they bossed the set pieces, territory and possession. Clinical and commanding with good game management, it was the type of form Pieter Bergh and Peacock Blues supporters had hoped to see all campaign.

Welcoming a few United Rugby Championship stars into the side, Western Province owned the set pieces in the first 40 against the Pumas last Sunday but were disjoined on attack and failed to make the most of their dominance, which saw them somehow fall behind by halftime.

After taking the lead after the break, they trailed by five with 20 minutes to go and had to work hard for their eventual 39-30 win, showing it’s not always a case of simply calling on big guns and getting an easy win. They, too, are out of the playoff race, making this a dead rubber, but it should be entertaining, nonetheless. 

Province have named a strong side, captained by Dan du Plessis, and should have more than enough firepower to claim their first win over the Peacock Blues since 2020.

Lions v Griffons

Friday, 6 September – 17:15

The difference in class between URC and Currie Cup teams was evident in the fully loaded Lions’ 57-33 win over the previously unbeaten Bulls in the historic clash at Midstream College last Friday.

For a first hit out, the URC Lions had super impressive continuity, while their pack dominated in the scrums and with their driving maul. Work is needed on defence, though, as they conceded five tries and a yellow card. That’ll be the focus in this fixture.

The Griffons were always going to be thrashed by a Sharks side filled with URC talent last weekend, but boy was it a long 80 minutes for the Purple People Eaters, who went down 75-19.

Things won’t get much better this week as the Lions will be out to claim the full five log points to ensure they finish top of the log. The only tricky part about this game is the possibility that the Lions could let their foot off the gas once they’ve sealed the four-try bonus point and effectively wrapped up the result.

Either way, it’ll be a runaway win for the pride of Johannesburg to condemn the minnows from Welkom to a winless season.

Pumas v Cheetahs

Saturday, 7 September – 13:30

The Pumas struggled to get going in Stellenbosch last Sunday. Passes didn’t stick, they butchered a certain try early on and were eaten alive at scrum time.

Their discipline was poor as well and, yet they still snatched a 17-15 halftime lead thanks to two late tries and were in the game right until the end when Western Province scored the final try for a nine-point win.

The lesson – don’t allow the Lowvelders to stay in the fight.

Things went from bad to worse for the Cheetahs in Kimberley, their shock 13-point drubbing leaving their title defence hanging by a thread. Their third loss in a row, the Free Staters are suffering some sort of identity crisis.

Aside from scoring a gift of a try early on, their habit of starting poorly continued as they leaked three tries in the first 20 minutes and poor discipline, including two yellow cards, meant there were no signs of coming back.

Holes in defence, inaccurate attack, poor decision-making, troubles under the high ball and bleeding scrum penalties, it was the poorest Cheetahs performance in recent memory.

Having their backs against the wall can either galvanise the Free Staters or push them over the edge. The Pumas are in better form and have home ground advantage, so they’re the safer bet.

Sharks XV v Bulls

Sunday, 8 September – 15:00

Similar to the Lions, the Sharks – stacked with URC stars getting their first run out of the season – would’ve been pleased with the accuracy of their execution as they put the poor Griffons to the sword.

For them, this clash is a case of three things; striking the right balance to ensure they make the step up from what was essentially a training match, continuing their momentum (they’re on a six-match unbeaten streak) and leaving a few things up their sleeve for their likely semi-final at Loftus Versfeld next weekend. 

Focusing on the bigger picture from a franchise level, the Bulls stuck to their Currie Cup guns and consequently suffered their first loss of the season to the fully loaded Lions.

It wasn’t that they were just outclassed, they also didn’t perform to their usual standard, making a lot of mistakes, many of them unforced. That’s what they would’ve focused on this week, to ensure they sharpen and level back up.

Playing at home, I fancy the surging Sharks to pull it through.