It’s crunch time in this year’s edition of the Currie Cup, with table-toppers the Golden Lions welcoming defending champs the Free State Cheetahs to Emirates Airline Park, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV make the trip to Pretoria to challenge the Blue Bulls in Saturday’s semi-finals.
Jordan Hendrikse of Hollywoodbets Sharks during the Carling Currie Cup, Premier Division match between Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Bulls (Pic – Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images)
Saturday 14 September
Lions 1/5 | Draw 28/1 | Cheetahs 36/10
Handicap
Lions (-10.5) 9/10 | Cheetahs (+10.5) 9/10
The Lions have been sublime under Mzwakhe Nkosi this term, losing just once heading into the play-offs; that coming in a 22-35 result against the Sharks XV in Joburg in the fourth round.
Since then, they’ve racked up six wins on the bounce, including a seismic 57-33 victory over the Bulls at Loftus a fortnight ago to leapfrog them into first on the standings. Last week, they dismantled Griffons 62-5 at home.
So dominant have they been this season that their points difference of 222 is over 100 more than the next-best Bulls, and, in their round-robin encounter in Bloemfontein last month, they put the Cheetahs away 38-21.
After a trying few games, Izak van der Westhuizen’s men did well to recapture some form last week in downing the Pumas 41-14 to secure fourth place in what was effectively a quarter-final. Coming up against the Lions though, the seven-time winners will have to hit levels we are yet to see from them this season.
With hot, dry conditions expected, we should see another high-scoring affair between two of the most attack-minded sides in the competition. Ultimately though the Lions are just looking too strong.
Verdict: Lions (-10.5) 9/10
There should be no stopping the Lions from earning a home final on Saturday.
Blue Bulls 5/10 | Draw 25/1 | Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 16/10
Handicap
Bulls (-3.5) 9/10 | Sharks XV (+3.5) 9/10
After leading the log for the duration of the competition, the Bulls’ round nine loss to the Lions saw them drop to second, without enough time to recover top spot ahead of the play-offs.
As good as their trans-Jukskei rivals have been, that will surely feel like a missed opportunity for such a talented Bulls squad, and the fact that a Loftus final may have eluded them this season should provide them with added motivation here.
It’s debatable just how much psychological scarring the Sharks XV inflicted in last week’s 24-18 win against the Herd in Durban, with that game mainly serving as the first pre-season hit-out for a number of players. In all honesty, it’s unlikely it will count for too much.
There are expected to be even more returning Springboks available for both outfits, which will significantly increase the quality of the contest. With that in mind, the Sharks’ superior player pool could prove to the difference in what should be a tight affair on the highveld.
Verdict: Sharks XV 16/10
Get on the Sharks XV to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches in the competition and book a spot in the final.
