Forecasts for Currie Cup Matches - Round Three
Currie Cup Round 3 Preview: Cheetahs Favoured Against Sharks XV, Bulls Dominate
The third round of the Currie Cup is upon us, and the competition is heating up as teams jostle for position. The SA Cup winners, the Cheetahs, are expected to be significantly stronger than the Pumas, who are playing in the third round. This is according to recent form and team ratings.
The Cheetahs, who are currently rated at 4.31, impressed with their fluency with ball in hand, varied attack, and dominance at scrum time in their last match. They will face the Sharks XV at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont on Saturday, August 9, at 17:10. The Sharks have weakened due to prioritizing their URC squad and fielding younger players, and the Cheetahs are expected to win comfortably.
Meanwhile, the Bulls, who are currently at the top of the table, are strongly favoured to win against the Pumas. The Pumas suffered their first loss of the season against the Cheetahs in their last match and have struggled in the lineouts, missed tackles, and lacked accuracy on attack. The Bulls, on the other hand, have had dominant performances, including big wins over Western Province and the Sharks.
In another exciting match, Griquas will play Western Province on Friday, August 8, at 15:00 in Kimberley. After being down by 34-19 at halftime, Griquas scored three tries in the first 11 minutes of the second stanza to win. However, Griquas have defensive issues, as they gifted the visitors two tries in their last match. Western Province showed improvement in their last match but had disciplinary and defensive issues.
The Lions, who have the highest team rating, are expected to win against Boland. Boland gave Griquas a serious scare in their last match but let a 15-point halftime lead slip. The Lions have banked maximum log points from their 41-5 and 40-19 wins over the Sharks XV and Western Province respectively. The Bulls had a one-sided victory against the Sharks XV in their last match, scoring 64-0.
Here's a summary of key team ratings ahead of Round 3:
| Team | Current Rating | |-----------------|----------------| | Lions | 12.60 | | Bulls | 11.09 | | Cheetahs | 4.31 | | Sharks | 0.75 | | Western Province| -3.74 | | Pumas | -3.75 | | Griquas | -3.91 | | Boland Kavaliers| -9.33 |
These ratings and recent form underpin the predicted outcomes favouring Bulls, Lions, Cheetahs, and a close match with Griquas edging Western Province.
Quintin Van Jaarsveld, a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year, provides insightful analysis on these matches. The Lions have lost their last two matches against the Sharks XV and Bulls with scores of 41-5 and 64-0 respectively. However, the Lions are expected to win against Boland by 19 points.
Quintin Van Jaarsveld is currently a freelance sports writer with over 15 years of experience. He highlights that Boland showed their epic opening round win over the Cheetahs was no fluke. Griquas won their last match against Boland with a score of 48-39.
As the Currie Cup enters its third round, teams will need to up their game to secure a spot in the playoffs. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis from Quintin Van Jaarsveld and other sports journalists.
- With the Currie Cup round 3 underway, football fans are eagerly anticipating the European league betting odds, as several promising sports predictions surface for the upcoming games.
- In the realm of rugby, the Cheetahs' impressive performance in the Currie Cup has drawn attention from sports bettors, with their victory against the Sharks XV expected to be replicated in their next encounter.
- Meanwhile, the dominance of the Bulls in the Currie Cup has sparked interest in sports betting circles, as they are heavily favored to won their respective matches in the European leagues, demonstrating their extraordinary form throughout the season.
