Pumas vs Griquas Predictions - Pumas backed to win at home in Currie Cup opener

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 24 Jul 2025

Simon Lewis 24 Jul 2025

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Pumas vs Griquas: Currie Cup 2025 opening match.
Pumas favored due to Griquas' away-game struggles.
Griquas confident, bolstered by new squad additions.

Expired

Pumas beat Griquas in their last encounter by 25 points. (Getty Images)

Pumas vs Griquas Predictions

This should be a good contest to get the 2025 Currie Cup season underway. The Pumas are slight favourites and given Griquas struggles away from home, I am backing the hosts to win by more than 11.5 points.

Pumas vs Griquas Predictions
Head to Head
Pumas Form
Pumas Team News
Griquas Form
Griquas Team News

Pumas beat Griquas in their last encounter by 25 points.
Pumas finished 5th in the 2024 Currie Cup.
Griquas have won 5 of their last 6 matches.

Head to Head

A couple of months ago these two sides met in the SA Cup final. The Pumas won that final 39-14.

Pumas Form

The Pumas missed out on the playoffs in the 2024 Currie Cup. They finished fifth on the table with five defeats, four victories and a draw.

The Nelspruit-based outfit will be hopeful of challenging for the semi-final again this season. Given that most unions are without their international players, the Pumas, and indeed Griquas, will fancy their chances.

Earlier this season, the Pumas won the SA Cup, defeating Griquas in the final. This should give them some confidence ahead of the season despite the opposition being much stronger this time around.

Pumas Team News

Pumas have a settled squad from the SA Cup a couple of months ago. Willie Engelbrecht has returned to the Pumas after captaining them to Currie Cup glory in 2022.

Griquas Form

Griquas will be full of confidence coming into the 2025 Currie Cup. They were superb during the SA Cup earlier this year, going unbeaten before their defeat to the Pumas in the final.

Last season, Griquas could only manage a sixth-place finish on the table. They were eight points off the semi-finals with their four victories not quite enough in 10 matches.

A strong start will be key to the Kimberley-based outfit, particularly away from home where they generally struggle.

Griquas Team News

Griquas have six new players in their Currie Cup squad which should give them some more depth. Johan Louw, Ntobeko Shezi, Ebune Ngundue, IG Prinsloo and Tiaan Lange have all joined an otherwise settled squad.

Verdict

Pumas v Griquas

I am backing the Pumas to cover the -11.5 handicap at home.

Pumas -6

Handicap

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