Currie Cup Predictions – Round 1

The Cheetahs go from being hunters to the hunted as they aim to defend their title in the new-look Currie Cup, which gets underway on Friday, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

The oldest provincial rugby competition in the world has been revamped for the 2024 season. This year’s edition will be contested over one-and-a-half rounds, followed by the semi-finals and the final.

The eight participating teams are divided into two pools of four based on last year’s standings. Teams will play home and away matches within their respective pools plus a single round of games against sides in the opposite pool.

The top two teams in each pool will progress to the semi-finals on 14 September, with the winners moving on to compete for the crown in the 21 September final.

Making up Pool A are the defending champion Cheetahs, the Bulls (4), Western Province (5) and the Griffons (8) while Pool B consists of the Sharks (2), Pumas, Lions (6) and Griquas (7).

Griquas and the Pumas kick off the competition in a rematch of the 2022 final in Kimberley on Friday afternoon, followed by a Durban duel between the Sharks and the Lions in the evening.

Saturday sees the Cheetahs Clash with the Griffons in Bloemfontein, with the round coming to a close with the North-South derby between Western Province and the Bulls in Cape Town on Sunday afternoon.

Griquas v Pumas

Friday, 5 July – 15:00

These two teams have become arch-rivals in recent years.

The Pumas famously pipped Griquas 26-19 in the 2022 final to clinch their first-ever title, while the Kimberley outfit defeated the men from Nelspruit 46-24 in the final of the SA Cup in May.

Griquas enjoyed an unbeaten SA Cup campaign and will fancy their chances of winning the Currie Cup for the first time since 1970. With both sides being settled, this should be a high-quality game.

The Peacock Blues showed in the SA Cup that they have the Pumas’ number, beating them 31-26 in the pool phase before downing them in the decider, so they should get the job done.

Prediction: Griquas by 10.

Sharks v Lions

Friday, 5 July – 17:15

Runners-up up last season, the Sharks will seek to go one better this year. The Currie Cup should be especially beneficial to them as it helps lift the standard of their United Rugby Championship second stringers.

The Lions will want to build on their solid URC campaign and make a run at the title after a disappointing 2023 Currie Cup season that saw them finish sixth. They did split the two games against the Sharks last season, though, winning 34-22 at home before succumbing 29-21 on the road.

Home ground advantage should once again prove decisive in what should be an entertaining encounter.

Prediction: Sharks by 7.

Cheetahs v Griffons

Saturday, 6 July – 13:30

The Cheetahs start life after Springbok legend’s Ruan Pienaar retirement and kick off the defence of their crown by hosting the Free State derby.

The Currie Cup is the only competition in which the Cheetahs don’t split their resources or have a second ‘home’ ground abroad and will thus be able to put their best foot forward. That will make them tough to beat.

The Griffons found the going tough last season, managing just a single win, a 32-28 triumph over the Bulls. They had a strong SA Cup campaign in which they progressed to the semi-finals after winning seven of their nine games, but they’re set to struggle again with the step up to Currie Cup level.

Expect the Cheetahs to lay down a marker with a comprehensive win. 

Prediction: Cheetahs by 24.

Western Province v Blue Bulls

Sunday, 7 July – 15:00

The biggest rivalry in South African rugby promises to bring the opening round to a cracking close.

Western Province owe it to their fans to make a better fist of it this year after failing to qualify for the semi-finals last season (finishing fifth). They have some real X-factor and won’t hesitate to throw the ball around.

It’ll be interesting to see how closely the Bulls, under new Currie Cup coach Phiwe Nomlomo, will follow the blueprint that took the Pretoria side to a home URC final and what new ideas the former SA Schools A team mentor brings to the table.

The fierce rivals have split the last 10 meetings straight down the middle, however, Province did the double last year, triumphing 41-33 at Loftus Versfeld and 31-7 in their backyard.

These signs point to a victory for Province, but I feel the experience the Bulls are able to draw on in players like newly appointed captain Nizaam Carr could see them pip it.

Prediction, Bulls by 5.