Currie Cup Predictions – Round 5

With just three rounds of the regular season remaining, business will pick up in the Currie Cup this weekend, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

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Round Five will kick off at Wits Rugby Stadium in Johannesburg, where the Lions face off against the Boland Kavaliers in the first of two games on Friday. The other will take place in Kimberley, where log leaders Griquas play host to the Sharks XV.

From there, it’s off to Mbombela Stadium for Saturday’s showdown between the Pumas and the Stormers XXIII, before the final stop of the weekend in Pretoria, where a desperate Bulls XV collide with the Cheetahs on Sunday afternoon.

Lions vs Boland Kavaliers

Friday, 14 August – 15:00

After being knocked off the top spot by Griquas last weekend, the Lions will be determined to get right back on the horse in the weekend’s opening encounter.

Their 31-19 loss in Kimberley saw them drop two places to third, and they’ll do everything in their power not to slip down the ladder any further.

The Kavaliers crashed out of the top four last weekend following their 19-12 loss to the Sharks XV. For as much fun as they are to watch at home, the fifth-placed men from Boland are not quite the same side on the road.

To that end, the Lions will be extra fired up by the festival atmosphere at Wits as opposed to the near silence they’ve become used to at Ellis Park, so chalk up a solid win for the Pride.

Prediction: Lions by 10.

Griquas vs Sharks XV

Friday, 14 August – 17:05

Griquas continued their fine form last weekend, claiming a 12-point win over the Lions to move to the top of the table.

The defending champions have won three on the trot since a last-gasp loss in Cape Town, making them the form team of the competition.

A large part of the Sharks fan base was fuming after their team’s rebrand to Sharks Rugby Club last week, so it was a good thing for the Durbanites that they didn’t irk their supporters any further in their first match of the new era.

Mike Vowles’ charges showed character, especially on defence, in their seven-point victory over the Kavaliers in KwaMashu, a result that kept their playoff hopes alive.

However, the high-flying Peacock Blues present a different challenge altogether, and they’re bound to make the most of their final home game of the regular season.

Prediction: Griquas by 14.

Pumas vs Stormers XXIII

Saturday, 15 August – 17:00

After a shocking start to their campaign, the Pumas are back on their feet, with back-to-back wins seeing them move into fourth place.

That said, those legs were shaking after they nearly squandered a commanding lead at Loftus Versfeld last weekend. Escaping with a 33-31 win in the end, the Lowvelders will look to produce an 80-minute performance against their visitors from the Cape.

Smarting after their heart-breaking 31-26 loss to the Cheetahs at Athlone Park last weekend, the Stormers XXIII start the round in sixth place. They continue to blow hot and cold, and the 41-3 walloping they endured in their previous away game in Wellington makes it tough to back them to prevail in Nelspruit.

Prediction: Pumas by 7.

Bulls XV vs Cheetahs

Sunday, 16 August – 15:00

Despite showing a lot of heart, especially when they were down to 12 men, the end result of last weekend’s game against the Pumas for the Bulls XV was a fourth loss in as many games.

All but out of the playoff race, the winless Herd’s woes are set to continue as Lady Luck is not on their side as far as their next opponents are concerned.

The Cheetahs have won three of their four games and are second on the log. The Currie Cup means a great deal to the Free Staters, and after needing a last-ditch try by marquee signing Faf de Klerk to pip the Stormers XXIII last weekend, they’ll make sure they’re not in that position again come Sunday.

Prediction: Cheetahs by 9.