Vodacom Bulls XV vs Cheetahs Predictions - Cheetahs backed to win on the road in a Round Four Currie Cup clash

Nigel Williams

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Last updated: 14 minutes ago

Nigel Williams 14 minutes ago

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Cheetahs are strong favorites to beat a winless Vodacom Bulls XV.
Bulls remain bottom of the Currie Cup table with four losses.
Cheetahs tipped to cover the -8 handicap despite injury woes.

Cheetahs backed to win on the road in a Round Four Currie Cup clash (Getty Images)

Vodacom Bulls XV vs Cheetahs Predictions

Cheetahs are strong favourites, against a Vodacom Bulls XV side that has lost all four of their matches of the 2026 campaign. Even with wholesale injury changes, the depth and tactical form of the Bloemfontein side should prove too strong for the struggling hosts in Pretoria. My best bet is the Cheetahs to cover the -8 handicap.

Vodacom Bulls XV vs Cheetahs Predictions
Head-to-Head
Vodacom Bulls XV Form
Vodacom Bulls XV Injuries & Team News
Cheetahs Form
Cheetahs Injuries & Team News

Vodacom Bulls XV have lost the last 4 matches.
Vodacom Bulls XV lost 33-31 to the Pumas in their last match.
Cheetahs have won 2 and drawn 1 of the last 5 meetings against the Vodacom Bulls XV.
Cheetahs have won 3 of the last 4 matches.
Cheetahs beat the Stormers XXIII 31–26 in their last match.

Head-to-Head

Cheetahs have won two and drawn one of the last five meetings against the Vodacom Bulls XV.

Vodacom Bulls XV Form

The Vodacom Bulls XV lost 33-31 to the Pumas in a fiery, error-ridden Currie Cup Round 4 encounter at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, after trailing 19-14 at halftime. Despite a fierce second-half comeback by the home side, the Pumas held on to claim the narrow victory.

Ill-discipline plagued both sides, highlighted by Bulls Abongile Nonkontwana receiving a red card for a high tackle. The Bulls mounted a strong second-half response with tries from Eloff and Mnebelele to level the scores.

The Bulls' late-game surge proved insufficient as the Pumas powered through a driving maul try late in the match to re-establish the lead.

Vodacom Bulls XV have been poor at the start of the season, losing their four matches in the Currie Cup. They lost to the Boland Kavaliers (24-10), Griquas (56-26), the Lions (42-19), and the Pumas (33-31).

Vodacom Bulls XV are eighth (bottom) in the Currie Cup table with three points after four matches.

Vodacom Bulls XV Injuries & Team News

Head coach Phiwe Nomlomo confirmed that hooker Shaun Schuurmann and centre PA van Niekerk are ruled out for the remainder of the season with severe knee injuries. Club captain and flanker Nama Xaba is sidelined for the rest of the campaign due to a broken finger, while JJ Theron and Neil Le Roux are also unavailable.

Cheetahs Form

The Cheetahs beat the Stormers XXIII 31–26 in a Currie Cup Round Four encounter at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, after trailing 14-5 at halftime.

With the score locked at 26-all late in the game, the Cheetahs maintained immense composure through nearly 30 phases before Faf de Klerk forced his way over in the left-hand corner after the hooter.

The bonus-point win moved the Cheetahs up to second place on the Currie Cup table.

The Cheetahs try-scorers were Prince Nkabinde, Neels Volschenk, Michael Annies, a penalty try, and Faf de Klerk, with Alex-Zander du Plessis adding two conversions.

Cheetahs have been in good form at the start of this season, winning three of their last four matches. They beat the Golden Lions (29-27), and the Sharks XV (43-21), losing to Griquas (24-21), before winning against the Stormers XXIII (31-26).

The Cheetahs are second in the Currie Cup table, with 16 points after four matches.

Cheetahs Injuries & Team News

The Cheetahs face a massive injury toll with over a dozen players unavailable, including Faf de Klerk and Clayton Blommetjies, forcing coach Frans Steyn to reshuffle his match-day squad.

Starting XV: 1 Tebogo Nkosi, 2 Juan Smal, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 4 Arno van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 6 Daniel Maartens, 7 Simon Miller, 8 Neels Volschenk (c), 9 Rewan Kruger, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 12 Zander du Plessis, 13 Jooste Nel, 14 Michael Annies, 15 Cohen Jasper.

Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Tielman Niewoudt, 18 John-Kelly Okonkwo, 19 Curtly Thomas, 20 Sisonke Vumasonke, 21 Jandre Nel, 22 Tiaan Swanepoel, 23 De-An Ackermann.

Verdict

Vodacom Bulls XV v Cheetahs Predictions

Cheetahs are strong favourites, against a Vodacom Bulls XV side that has lost all four of their matches of the 2026 campaign.

Cheetahs -8

Handicap

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