15 August 2019, by: Quintin van Jaarsveld

CURRIE CUP PREDICTIONS – ROUND 6

The heat is on as the Currie Cup reaches the penultimate round of the regular season this weekend.

With five of the seven participating sides in play-off contention, fans can expect a spike in intensity that should make for riveting rugby. Currently occupying the semi-final slots are Griquas (15), the Golden Lions (15), the Free State Cheetahs (12) and Western Province (12). The Sharks (10) are still in the hunt but find themselves on the outside looking in, in fifth place, while the Blue Bulls (9) – who are on a bye this week – and Pumas (7) only have pride to play for.

Round Six kicks off in Kimberley, where pace-setting Griquas face Western Province on Friday night. The Currie Cup roadshow heads to Nelspruit on Saturday with the Pumas finishing off their campaign against the Free State Cheetahs. A rare Sunday showdown will wrap up the weekend’s action with the Golden Lions welcoming the Sharks to Johannesburg.

Not only can log-leading Griquas taste a semi-final, but a home semi-final at that. The “minnows” can’t get ahead of themselves, though, and need to win this one to stay at the top. Fortunately for them, they are at home in not just Friday’s fixture but next weekend’s clash against the Lions as well.

Also in the men from Kimberley’s favour is the fact that Western Province have been stripped of four key players. Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was always going to return to the national side for Saturday’s ‘Farewell’ Test against Argentina at Loftus, but hooker Scarra Ntubeni, tighthead Wilco Louw and utility back Dillyn Leyds have also been roped in by Rassie Erasmus.

Fortunately for John Dobson, the expected returns of Damian Willemse and SP Marais will minimise the damage. Willemse’s comeback will be particularly welcome as he’ll bring game management and Leyds-like X-factor to the table and will aim to make a massive statement in a late bid for a place in the Bok World Cup squad.

Marais’ accurate boot could be decisive, while they have ample depth on both sides of the front row, with Carlu Sadie, in particular, a more than capable replacement for Louw. The only real concern for Province is at hooker, so expect the hosts to target the lineouts.

Griquas are always double tough in Kimberley, but I feel like Province have adequate depth to eke out a win.

Prediction: Western Province by 3. 

That this clash is in Nelspruit is seemingly the only comfort for the Pumas. After taking a 45-14 hiding at Newlands, and with the Cheetahs crashing to their second successive defeat in Durban, the Pumas are in for a tough day.

The Free Staters, at full-strength this season with the PRO14 only kicking off next month, were expected to beat both the Lions and Sharks over the past fortnight. Instead, the back-to-back defeats saw them swept off the summit.

Their saving grace is that they picked up a losing bonus point on both occasions, which sees them sit in third place ahead of Province due to their superior points difference.

With a meeting with the self-same Province next week, the Cheetahs know they not only need to bounce back but claim the full five points against the Pumas, and they should do just that.

Prediction: Free State by 17.

The teams had contrasting fortunes last week, with the Lions suffering their first loss of the season against the Bulls and the Sharks upsetting the Cheetahs. It’s a welcome momentum swing for the Durbanites and one they have to capitalise on.

The Sharks have to win their remaining fixtures, both on the Highveld, with the Bulls lying in wait at Loftus next weekend and have other results go their way if they are to snatch a semi-final berth. A loss at Ellis Park will thus bring a premature end to their reign.

For a team that seemingly lacked concentration and inspiration at times, there’s no greater motivator than that – that desperation to cling onto the crown is the equivalent of throwing gasoline on a fire, so the Sharks will come out all guns blazing. Curwin Bosch, after a commanding performance last week, is an injury concern and the Durbanites’ chances will be severely diminished if the leg niggle sidelines their star flyhalf.

For the Lions, it’s not just the loss but the nature thereof that would’ve been a bitter pill to swallow. The Bulls deserve all the credit in the world for pulling off an unbelievable win after losing flank Fred Eksteen to a red card in the 19th minute and conceding two yellow cards. However, in the same breath, the Lions made a meal of what should’ve been a sure thing.

The men from Johannesburg were guilty of forcing the issue instead of patiently sticking to their structure and capitalising on the opportunities that would inevitably have presented themselves. Although the Lions are comeback kings, the fact that the 14-man Bulls were able to hang on, in the end, will inspire the Sharks to try to put similar pressure on their hosts.

Like they showed against the Cheetahs last weekend, and Province in Round Two, the Sharks can topple any team on any given day, but with home ground advantage and an opportunity to leapfrog Griquas at the top of the log – should the men from Kimberley come up short against Province – you’d have to back the Lions to get over the line.

Prediction: Golden Lions by 12.

MORE RUGBY