Currie Cup final: Bulls v Sharks? Bet on it!

The 2021 Currie Cup has reached its semi-final stage after a round-robin phase hard hit by Covid-19 cancellations and interruptions caused by the visiting British & Irish Lions.

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Usual powerhouses of SA rugby – the Lions and Cheetahs – were woeful this season, comfortably missing out on the playoff stages.

The Bulls and Sharks dominated proceedings and deservedly earned the right to host this weekend’s semi-finals.

Jake White’s Bulls side will welcome Western Province to Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Friday, 3 September for a 19:00 kick-off.

The Bulls have been installed as heavy 2/9 outright favourites – and 10.5 points on handicap – to reach next weekend’s final by local bookmakers Hollywoodbets.

The men from the Cape can be backed at 7/2, with the draw after 80 minutes on offer at 25/1.

READ | CURRIE CUP SEMI-FINAL DATES, VENUES, TEAMS AND KICK-OFF TIMES CONFIRMED!

Similarly, in Saturday’s second semi-finals the Sharks are equally big outright favourites at 1/4 – and 9.5 points on handicap – to see off the challenge of Griquas.

The men from Kimberley can be backed at 3/1 with the draw on offer at 25/1.

Kick-off at Kings Park is scheduled for 17:00.

Should the Bulls and Sharks emerge victorious as is widely expected, a humdinger of a final awaits in Pretoria on Saturday, 11 September.

Dates, fixtures, venues, line-ups and kick-off times for the the Currie Cup semi-finals.

FRIDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER

Bulls v Western Province, Pretoria – 19:00

Bulls

15 David Kriel, 14 Cornal Hendricks,  13 Lionel Mapoe,  12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw,  7 Arno Botha,  6 Marcell Coetzee  (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje,  4 Janko Swanepoel,  3 Mornay Smith, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp

Substitutes (from):16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Jacques du Plessis, 20 WJ Steenkamp,  21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Stravino Jacobs, 24 Joe van Zyl, 25 Reinhardt Ludwig, 26 Jaco Labuschagne, 27 Marco Jansen van Vuren,  28 Stedman Gans 

Western Province

15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Ruhan Nel, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Johan du Toit, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Leon Lyons

Substitutes (from): 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Justin Basson, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Rikus Pretorius, 23 Tristan Leyds, 24 Warrick Gelant

Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron, Cwengile Jadezweni
Television Match Official: Quinton Immelman

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SATURDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER

Sharks v Griquas, Durban – 17:00

Sharks

15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Werner Kok, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi (captain), 7 Henco Venter, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu 

Substitutes: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Anthony Volmink

Griquas

15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Chris Hollis, 12 Jonathan Francke, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Ruan Steenkamp (captain), 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Stephen Fitzgerald, 5 Stefan Willemse, 4 Andre Smith, 3 Erich de Jager, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Mox Moxili

Substitutes: 16 Alandre van Rooyen, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Janu Botha, 19 Cameron Lindsay, 20 Johan Momsen, 21 Readgan Oranje, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Ederies Arendse 

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Paul Mente
Television Match Official: Egon Seconds 

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