Blue Bulls vs Cheetahs Prediction & Betting Tips - Currie Cup

Prediction published on 09/06/2023, 14:40  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 10/06/2023 at 01:00 in Currie Cup Prediction

The penultimate match in the group stages of the Currie Cup will see the Blue Bulls take on the Free State Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon. The hosts have just this match to secure a spot in the knockout stages, while their opponents have already locked in a home semi-final next weekend. The Bulls were overtaken by the Golden Lions into the final qualification spot after the side from Gauteng overcame the Griffons 39-22 on Friday. The hosts are level on points with the Lions, but have a -8 points scored difference. Adding to the final-day drama are Western Province, who are also still in with a sniff and can get past as many as three sides into fourth if they are able to beat the Sharks with a bonus point. The Bulls looked dead and buried at the midway point of the competition. But they’ve made a huge push in the latter stages with four consecutive wins coming into one, making them the favourites of the three sides still in contention to make the cut. While several permutations still apply, the bottom line for the Bulls is that a win secures their qualification, which is all they will be focusing on. 

While the Free State Cheetahs will be looking forward to a home semi-final in a week, they will still want to win this match to put pressure on the Sharks, who play later in the day. The Durban-based side currently leads the Currie Cup standings, and if they slip up against Western Province, the Cheetahs could end top of the pile, potentially securing them a home final if they reach that stage. The visitors got off to an incredible start in the group stages and led the way for the first half of the competition. However, they did experience a noticeable slump in the mid-season, allowing the Sharks to storm past them. The Cheetahs crushed this opponent 32-7 in week three of the tournament, but they will know that their opponents are playing for their lives this time around. Following a solid win in their last match against the defending champions, the Pumas, the visitors will want to build on that performance with another win here as they head into the knockout stages.