Pumas vs Bulls
The race for the playoff places is hotting up and these two teams will be chasing those spots although the Bulls seem certain to make the playoffs but will want home ground advantage. The Pumas came back from the dead to snatch a dramatic draw against WP in their last match which ensured they still have a semifinal chance but need to win their remaining matches. The Bulls are sitting pretty at the top of the table after thrashing the Lions. The Pumas biggest problem may be fatigue as they have just 3 days turnaround between games. They will once again look to their forwards to be dominant but it won’t be easy against a strong Bulls pack. The Bulls have the best all round team in the Currie Cup and showed in the match against the Lions that they have the backs and forwards playing great together. It is very difficult to stop them when there is that interplay between backs and forwards.
TIP: The Pumas key player once again is Eddie Fouche. His the reason that the Pumas have performed so well this season as he directs the team with his excellent decision making. His kicking game both from hand and goal kicking has been pinpoint accurate. The Bulls have Johan Goosen at 10 and the contest between him and Fouche will go a long way to deciding the outcome. The Bulls have developed their game this season are equally comfortable keeping the ball amongst the forwards or running the ball. This has made it difficult for teams to defend against them as they can change their game plan at any time. The bookies have the Bulls as favourites and I’m also tipping them for the victory. The best odds on this best are as follows: Worldsportsbetting 1.20, Playabets 1.14 and Sunbet 1.21
HEAD TO HEAD STATS
Pumas vs Bulls
- In the last five matches there have been four Bulls wins and one win form the Pumas.
- The Pumas have won 3 of their last 5 home matches against the Bulls.
- The Pumas last beat the Bulls at home in 2019.
Latest results for both teams
The Pumas drew their last match against WP 40-40 while the Bulls beat the Lions 48-21 in their last match.
PREDICTION
It will be interesting to see if the Pumas keep the ball in hand or they revert to the kicking game. Kicking to this Bulls team will be dangerous as they have great counter attackers like Madosh Tambwe and Kurt-Lee Arendse. These players thrive on counter attack so the Pumas will need to be accurate whenever they have possession. Both these teams use their rolling maul as an attacking weapon and score lots of tries through the maul. The man that defies age is Pumas hooker Simon Westraadt as he can’t stop scoring this season even at the ripe old age of 35 he is the driver of the mauls. The Bulls can win comfortably if they can nullify the Pumas maul. The Bulls advantage is in the forwards and that is the reason I’m predicting them to win by 7 points
- Probable Starting XVs
Pumas
15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastián de Klerk, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Matt More, 11 Ettiene Taljaard, 10 Eddie Fouche, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Phumzile Maqondwana, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Pieter van Vuuren, 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 IG Prinsloo, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Etienne Janeke.
Bulls
15 David Kriel, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Zak Burger, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Arno Botha (captain), 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.
Odds for this bet
The best odds on the Bulls victory are as follows:
Worldsportsbetting 1.20
Playabets 1.14
Sunbet 1.21
Odds comparison on the Pumas handicap :
The complete odds on the Pumas handicap:
Worldsportsbetting (+12.5) 1.90
Sunbet (+12.5) 1.87
Playabets (+12.5) 1.89
Predictions and Odds in details
The Pumas so often basement dwellers have shown that they can compete with anyone on their day. They have a strong set of forwards and their scrum has been solid throughout the season. This match will test their squad depth having played just 3 days ago. The Bulls also played the past weekend but have had 4 days between matches. They rested some key players in the last match so they should be at full strength for this match. The Pumas under Coach Jimmy Stonehouse are never easy to face at home and this will once again be the situation. Players like Devon Williams and Ettiene Taljaard will keep the Bulls defence busy as they are superb attackers. The bookies are not offering great value on the Bulls outright victory therefore I suggest the Pumas on the generous handicap. The best odds on this bet are as follows: Worldsportsbetting (+12.5) 1.90, Sunbet (+12.5) 1.87 and Playabets (+12.5) 1.89
Sports crazy fan that follows all major sport but the game with the oval ball is my real passion. Was an age level rugby coach and a huge supporter of the Springboks and diehard Liverpool man. I’m an experienced punter and sports writer whose predictions/tips are sure to stir up the emotions. I love the occasional wager on the underdog.
