Currie Cup Predictions – Round 10

An expected influx of big-name players will see business pick up in Round 10 of the Currie Cup this weekend, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

With the Sharks and Bulls’ United Rugby Championship campaigns having come to an end at the quarter-final stage last weekend, the sides will have plenty of star power to call on to boost their Currie Cup title hopes, which should elevate the standard of the competition from here on out.  

The men from Durban will be involved in the pick of the weekend’s games when they take the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday afternoon after the earlier encounter between the Griffons and Western Province.

On Saturday, the Bulls collide with Griquas in Kimberley and the log-leading Cheetahs battle the Lions in Bloemfontein.

Griffons v Western Province

Friday, 12 May – 15:00

Denied at the death by the Cheetahs last weekend, Western Province will seek an 80-minute performance. 

That spells trouble for the Griffons, who have been able to find their way to the try line but have been found wanting on defence. 

That trend will continue here and see Western Province pick up the full five log points.

Prediction: Western Province by 19.

Pumas v Sharks

Friday, 12 May – 17:05

The Sharks have some major firepower to call on for this pivotal clash if they choose to before nine of their Test stars assemble for the first of two Springbok preparation camps in Durban next week. 

The KwaZulu-Natal side’s impressive 41-27 win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last weekend was their third in a row and strengthened their standing in third place. Six points behind the second-placed Pumas, this is their opportunity to close the gap and aggressively pursue a home semi-final.

Their full-fledged Currie Cup team upset the defending champions 19-12 in Round Five, so while home-ground advantage suggests the Pumas will turn the tables, the Sharks are a good bet. 

Prediction: Sharks by 5.

Griquas v Bulls

Saturday, 13 May – 15:00

Timing is everything as they say, and the timing of these two teams’ ties has favoured the Bulls this season. It allowed them to field a first-choice URC outfit to end their winless streak with a 40-3 rout of last year’s finalists in Round Five and allows them to name a similar side for the return fixture.

The Peacock Blues pipped the Lions’ URC team 25-21 last weekend, so they’ll back themselves to do the same against the Bulls. Down in lowly seventh place, the Bulls have to turn their fortunes around swiftly to stay in the playoff picture. That desperation, along with game-changing reinforcements, should see the visitors come away with the win.   

Prediction: Bulls by 7.

Cheetahs v Lions

Saturday, 13 May – 17:05

The Cheetahs, by their own admission, haven’t been near their best in recent weeks but have nevertheless continued their winning ways to top the table. 

That’s the mark of a champion team, finding a way to win, as they did in their come-from-behind triumph over Western Province last weekend. Still, a frustrated Hawies Fourie is demanding more from his men and a strong Lions team should bring the best out of them. 

It’ll be a hard-fought affair, but increased intensity and home-ground advantage should result in victory for the log leaders.  

Prediction: Cheetahs by 8. 

Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.