South Africa - Currie Cup
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Sharks vs Golden Lions Prediction & Betting Tips - Currie Cup
by Devesh Jaganath | in Currie Cup Predictions
Match two of the opening round at the 2024 Curie Cup will come from Durban where the Sharks will take on the Golden Lions on Friday afternoon. The hosts ended the group stage last season in second place, while the visitors finished sixth.
After a somewhat sluggish start to the competition last season, the Sharks came steaming back in the latter stages, winning four of their last five games to secure a home semi-final against the Pumas. Unfortunately, the side from Mpumalanga arrived at the Shark Tank in excellent form and overcame the home team 26-20 in a nail-biting encounter. Since then, the Sharks had a very poor United Rugby Championship campaign finishing 14th, but made amends by going on to win the EPCR Challenge Cup, beating Gloucester 36-24 in the grand final on May 24 this year.
The Durbanites beat this opponent 29-21 at this venue last season and are the favourites heading into this contest.
Meanwhile, last season was a tough one for the Lions and they will be seeking major improvement this time around. They finished the 2023 Currie Cup group stage in sixth place with a record of six wins and eight losses, along with a points difference of -4.
The only positive the side would have taken from their domestic campaign was that they earned 12 bonus points, which was the second-most in the competition behind the Cheetahs’ 13. In the URC, the Lions finished ninth in the table splitting their 18 matches with nine wins and nine losses.
They also had an underwhelming Challenge Cup campaign, finishing fourth in their group before being knocked out in the first postseason knockout match by Benneton. While the Sharks are the favourites here, it is worth noting that the Johannesburg outfit did beat the Durbanites home and away in the URC earlier this year.
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The Best Betting Odds for Sharks v Golden Lions Match
Bookmaker | 1 | X | 2 | Bonus up to |
---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.1 | 34 | 1.36 |
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4.3 | 100 | 1.19 |
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|
4.3 | 100 | 1.19 |
|
|
3.33 | 18 | 1.37 |
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|
3.33 | 18 | 1.37 |
|
|
2.14 | 26 | 1.74 |
|
|
3 | 15 | 1.46 |
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|
3.21 | 29 | 1.38 |
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|
4.25 | 41 | 1.15 |
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2.14 | 25 | 1.72 |
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Sharks vs Golden Lions Form
Sharks and Golden Lions's standings in the Currie Cup
Teams | Pts | P | W | D | L | GD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
43 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 222 |
2
|
35 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 93 |
Sharks and Golden Lions Last Matches
3/6 (50%)
0/6 (0%)
3/6 (50%)
1 Jun 2024 - Pro 12
24 May 2024 - Challenge Cup
18 May 2024 - Pro 12
11 May 2024 - Pro 12
4 May 2024 - Challenge Cup
26 Apr 2024 - Pro 12
3/6 (50%)
0/6 (0%)
3/6 (50%)
1 Jun 2024 - Pro 12
24 May 2024 - Challenge Cup
18 May 2024 - Pro 12
11 May 2024 - Pro 12
4 May 2024 - Challenge Cup
13 Apr 2024 - Challenge Cup
2/6 (33%)
0/6 (0%)
4/6 (67%)
26 Apr 2024 - Pro 12
19 Apr 2024 - Pro 12
2 Mar 2024 - Pro 12
21 Jan 2024 - Challenge Cup
30 Dec 2023 - Pro 12
17 Dec 2023 - Challenge Cup
3/6 (50%)
0/6 (0%)
3/6 (50%)
9 Jun 2023 - Currie Cup
3 Jun 2023 - Currie Cup
16 Apr 2023 - Currie Cup
9 Apr 2023 - Currie Cup
4 Jun 2022 - Currie Cup
28 May 2022 - Currie Cup
1/3 (33%)
0/3 (0%)
2/3 (67%)
16 Apr 2023 - Currie Cup
9 Apr 2023 - Currie Cup
28 May 2022 - Currie Cup
2/3 (67%)
0/3 (0%)
1/3 (33%)
9 Jun 2023 - Currie Cup
3 Jun 2023 - Currie Cup
4 Jun 2022 - Currie Cup
Sharks vs Golden Lions Stats: Head to Head (H2H)
50 %
0 %
50 %
3 Jun 2023 - Currie Cup
4 Jun 2022 - Currie Cup
Sharks - Golden Lions Key Points
- The Sharks finished the 2023 Currie Cup group stage in second place
- The Sharks beat this opponent at home last season
- The Sharks won the EPCR Challenge Cup in May this year
- The Lions won the second-fewest matches in the Currie Cup last year
- The Lions only won three of their seven away games in this competition last season
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Our Sharks vs Golden Lions Prediction
A lot will depend on the lineups these two teams send out this weekend, as the Sharks have a number of their first-team starters currently away on international duty with the Springboks.
While that should level proceedings significantly here, the Durbanites still have plenty of class in their ranks and we feel they will be able to hold on for a close win on their home patch in this one. Our Sharks vs Golden Lions prediction: Sharks to win the match!
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
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