Western Province vs Pumas Prediction: Pumas to keep semi-final hopes alive

Sitting rock-bottom of the Currie Cup standings, Western Province only have pride to play for as they prepare to host the Pumas at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening (18:20 kick-off).

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Western Province vs Pumas prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the clash in Cape Town.

Team news

Western Province start with a pack that includes Mhleli Khuzwayo, Scarra Ntubeni and Zachary Porthen in the front row, with locks Alex Groves and Riley Norton in behind.

Paul de Villiers, Connor Evans, and captain Louw Nel complete the forwards, while Ezekiel Ngobeni and Kyle Smith get the nod in the half-backs.

Damian Markus and Gino Cupido pair up in the centres, with the hosts’ back three made up of Jared Africa, Joel Leotlela and Luke Burger.

Etienne Janeke, Eduan Swart and Sampie Swiegers start in the front row for the Pumas, with locks JJ Scheepers and Tiaan de Klerk in the engine room.

Ntsika Fisanti, Ruwald Van der Merwe and skipper Willie Engelbrecht complete the pack, with Ross Braude and Clinton Swart in the half-backs.

Wian Van Niekerk and Sango Xamlashe start in the centres, with Darren Adonis, Lundi Msenge and Stefan Coetzee in the back three.

Match odds

Western Province are available at 5/1 to win, while the Pumas are 1/7 to leave Cape Town with a win to boost their semi-final hopes.

A stalemate at Cape Town Stadium is currently available at 18/1.

Pumas -12 three-way handicap @ 20/21

Sat bottom of the standings with just one losing bonus point from their first five games, it’s been a Currie Cup campaign to forget for Western Province in 2025.

After a 47-17 hammering at the hands of Griquas in Round 3, Western Province did respond with two more competitive performances in their last couple of outings.

Losing 31-24 at the Free State Cheetahs, before a 29-21 loss at the Durban Sharks, head coach Labeeb Levy will have taken positives from those games.

However, Western Province have little but pride to play for in their remaining two games, starting with the arrival of the Pumas to Cape Town Stadium.

The Pumas go into this game on the back of a narrow 29-26 home defeat at the hands of the Boland Cavaliers and head coach Jimmy Stonehouse will be desperate to see his side produce a response on Saturday.

Facing a Western Province side who have only managed one win in their last 10 Currie Cup games, the Pumas should fancy their chances of producing a crucial win on the road and covering the handicap in the process.

Victory for the Pumas in Cape Town will keep their top four ambitions alive before their Round 7 trip to Kings Park Stadium to face the Sharks on September 5th.

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