2006 Currie Cup Premier Division

The 2006 ABSA Currie Cup season was contested from June through to October. The Currie Cup is an annual domestic competition for rugby union clubs in South Africa. The tournament was controversial before it even began, with the Southern Spears saga regarding entry into the Super 14 and Currie Cup continuing.

2006 Currie Cup Premier Division
CountriesSouth Africa
Date23 June – 14 October 2006
ChampionsJoint champions:
Blue Bulls (22nd title)
Free State Cheetahs (3rd title)
Runners-upBlue Bulls
← 2005
2007 →

The final was drawn between the Free State Cheetahs and the Blue Bulls 28-all at Vodacom Park. It was the first drawn final since the 1989 season. The 2006 final was the third Free State/Blue Bulls final in succession.

Competition

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Changes from previous season

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The structure of the competition changed for 2006. In 2005, all fourteen provincial teams played in the qualifying rounds of the Currie Cup, with the top eight teams going through to the Premier Division competition and the bottom six teams going through to the First Division tournament.

For 2006, it was decided to reduce the number of teams to just eight. The five provincial teams directly affiliated to the Super 14 franchises - the Blue Bulls, Free State Cheetahs, Golden Lions, Sharks and Western Province, called "entrenched" teams – got automatic qualification to the Currie Cup Premier Division for five seasons, from 2006 until 2010.

The two best non-entrenched teams in the 2006 Vodacom Cup competition would also participate in the Premier Division. The Falcons won the Vodacom Cup competition and the Pumas finished fifth to secure their places in the Premier Division.

In addition, the South Eastern Cape would be named as an entrenched team for 2006 only, as preparation for the Southern Spears' entry into the 2007 Super 14 season.[1] However, the Southern Spears were later denied entry into the Super 14 competition[2] and the South Eastern Cape's spot were given to Griquas instead.

Format

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All eight teams played a double round robin, meaning every team played fourteen matches in total.

Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that scored 4 or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by 7 points or less. Teams were ranked by points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).

The top four teams qualified to the semi-finals.

Teams

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Fixtures and results

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Date Date
Round 1 June 23–24 Round 9 August 25–26
Round 2 June 30 - July 1 Round 10 September 1–2
Round 3 July 7–8 Round 11 September 8
Round 4 July 14–15 Round 12 September 15–16
Round 5 July 21–22 Round 13 September 22–23
Round 6 July 28–29 Round 14 September 29–30
Round 7 August 4–12 Semi-Finals October 7
Round 8 August 18–19 Final 14 October

Round 1

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2006-06-23
Blue Bulls 18–16 Falcons Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Attendance:
Referee: Craig Joubert
Tries: JP Nel, Stefan Basson
Con: Morné Steyn
Pens: Morné Steyn (2)
Card: JP Nel   1' to 11'
Try: Riaan Viljoen
Con: Louis Strydom
Pens: Louis Strydom (3)
Card: Dewald Senekal   26' to 36'
  • Friday 23 June Pumas 18-25 Western Province Witbank


2006-06-23
Sharks 33–22 Golden Lions ABSA Stadium, Durban
Attendance:
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Tries: Carl Bezuidenhout, Jacques Botes, Andries Strauss, Bismarck du Plessis
Cons: Butch James (2)
Pens: Butch James (3)
Card: Johann Muller   77' to 80'
Tries: Wylie Human (3), Jaco Pretorius
Con: Rory Kockott

Round 2

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  • Friday 30 June Falcons 9-66 Cheetahs Brakpan


2006-07-01
Griquas 60–26 Pumas ABSA Park, Kimberley
Attendance:
Referee: Willie Roos
Tries: Heinrich Stride (2), Zane Kirchner (2), Lafras Uys, Gareth Krause, Vuyani Dlomo
Cons: Conrad Barnard (5)
Pens: Conrad Barnard (5)
Tries: Pieter Benadé (2), Hendrik Meyer, Jacques Muller
Cons: Jeandré Fourie (3)
  • Saturday 1 July Western Province 25-28 Sharks Cape Town
  • Saturday 1 July Golden Lions 24-39 Blue Bulls Johannesburg

Round 3

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  • Friday 7 July Sharks 34-16 Pumas Durban
  • Saturday 8 July Cheetahs 59-5 Golden Lions Bloemfontein
  • Saturday 8 July Falcons 23-8 Griquas Brakpan
  • Saturday 8 July Blue Bulls 10-15 Western Province Pretoria

Round 4

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  • Friday 14 July Lions 32-19 Falcons Johannesburg
  • Saturday 15 July Griquas 23-22 Sharks Kimberley
  • Saturday 15 July Pumas 17-48 Blue Bulls Witbank
  • Saturday 15 July Western Province 20-13 Cheetahs Cape Town

Round 5

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  • Friday 21 July Falcons 31-40 Western Province Brakpan
  • Friday 21 July Blue Bulls 28-37 Sharks Pretoria
  • Saturday 22 July Griquas 27-23 Golden Lions Kimberley
  • Saturday 22 July Cheetahs 42-27 Pumas Bloemfontein

Round 6

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  • Friday 28 July Pumas 8-36 Falcons Witbank
  • Saturday 29 July Blue Bulls 39-20 Griquas Pretoria
  • Saturday 29 July Western Province 30-28 Golden Lions Cape Town
  • Saturday 29 July Sharks 19-31 Cheetahs Durban

Round 7

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  • Friday 4 August Falcons 17-46 Sharks Brakpan
  • Saturday 5 August Griquas 23-27 Western Province Kimberley
  • Saturday 5 August Cheetahs 12-24 Blue Bulls Bloemfontein
  • Saturday 5 August Golden Lions 74-15 Pumas Johannesburg
  • Saturday 12 August Blue Bulls 17-19 Golden Lions Pretoria

Round 8

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  • Friday 18 August Falcons 13-27 Blue Bulls Brakpan
  • Saturday 19 August Griquas 20-31 Cheetahs Kimberley
  • Saturday 19 August Golden Lions 22-21 Sharks Johannesburg
  • Saturday 19 August Western Province 43-10 Pumas Cape Town

Round 9

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  • Saturday 25 August Sharks 16-6 Western Province Durban
  • Saturday 25 August Pumas 27-60 Griquas Witbank
  • Sunday 26 August Cheetahs 78-8 Falcons Bloemfontein

Round 10

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  • Friday 1 September Pumas 14-82 Sharks Witbank


2006-09-01
Golden Lions 39–28 Free State Cheetahs Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Attendance:
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Tries: Jaco Pretorius, Ricky Januarie, Wikus van Heerden, Wylie Human, Jaco van Schalkwyk
Cons: Earl Rose (4)
Pens: Earl Rose, Mark Harris
Card: Ricky Januarie   54' to 64'
Tries: Philip Burger (2), Kabamba Floors, Ryno van der Merwe
Cons: Willem de Waal (4)


2006-09-01
Western Province 23–12 Blue Bulls Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Attendance: ~36,000
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Tries: Gio Aplon (2)
Cons: Naas Olivier (2)
Pens: Naas Olivier (3)
Card: De Wet Barry   6' to 16'
Tries: Frikkie Welsh, Morné Steyn
Con: Morné Steyn
Card: Francois van Schouwenburg   9' to 19'
  • Saturday 2 September Griquas 36-27 Falcons Kimberley

Round 11

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  • Friday 8 September Blue Bulls 66-3 Pumas Pretoria
  • Friday 8 September Cheetahs 28-13 Western Province Bloemfontein
  • Friday 8 September Sharks 60-8 Griquas Durban
  • Friday 8 September Falcons 17-32 Golden Lions Brakpan

Round 12

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  • Friday 15 September Western Province 68-12 Falcons Cape Town
  • Saturday 16 September Pumas 12-68 Cheetahs Witbank
  • Saturday 16 September Golden Lions 66-13 Griquas Ellis Park
  • Saturday 16 September Sharks 32-50 Blue Bulls Durban

Round 13

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2006-09-23
Griquas 22–60 Blue Bulls ABSA Park, Kimberley
Attendance:
Referee: Craig Joubert
Report[3]
Tries: Vuyani Dlomo (2), Frans Viljoen
Cons: Conrad Barnard (2)
Pen: Conrad Barnard
Tries: Akona Ndungane (2), Stefan Basson (2), Derick Kuün, Morné Steyn, Heini Adams, Danie Rossouw, Dries Scholtz
Cons: Morné Steyn (7)
Pen: Morné Steyn


2006-09-23
Falcons 64–41 Pumas Bosman Stadium, Brakpan
Attendance:
Referee: Deon van Blommestein
Tries: Nico Luus (2), Jovan Bowles (2), Piet Krause, Riaan Hefer, Michael Vermaak, Mpho Matsaung, Attie Pienaar
Cons: Louis Strydom (7), Riaan Viljoen
Pen: Louis Strydom
Tries: Darryl Coeries (2), Pieter Benadé (2), Jacques Lombaard
Cons: Jeandre Fourie (5)
Pens: Jeandre Fourie (2)


2006-09-23
Free State Cheetahs 37–35 Sharks Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Attendance:
Referee: Willie Roos
Tries: Richardt Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Ryno van der Merwe
Cons: Willem de Waal (2)
Pens: Willem de Waal (5)
Drop: Willem de Waal
Tries: Odwa Ndungane, Ryan Kankowski, Waylon Murray, Keegan Daniel
Cons: Ruan Pienaar (3)
Pens: Ruan Pienaar (3)


2006-09-23
Golden Lions 42–36 Western Province Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Attendance:
Referee: Marius Jonker
Tries: Jaco Pretorius (3), Earl Rose
Cons: André Pretorius (2)
Pens: André Pretorius (5)
Tries: Sireli Naqelevuki (3), Luke Watson, Corne Uys
Cons: Naas Olivier
Pens: Naas Olivier (3)

Round 14

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  • Friday 29 September Pumas 10-89 Golden Lions Witbank
  • Saturday 30 September Western Province 55-17 Griquas Cape Town
  • Saturday 30 September Sharks 48-10 Falcons Durban
  • Saturday 30 September Blue Bulls 41-31 Cheetahs Pretoria

Standings

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2006 Premier Division
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA BP Pts
Free State Cheetahs 14 10 0 4 579 286 293 76 33 10 50
Blue Bulls 14 10 0 4 479 284 195 63 32 10 50
Western Province 14 10 0 4 424 289 135 58 32 9 49
Sharks 14 9 0 5 513 309 204 68 35 12 48
Golden Lions 14 9 0 5 485 383 102 64 48 10 46
Griquas 14 5 0 9 370 509 -139 43 73 5 25
Falcons 14 3 0 11 303 546 -243 37 77 5 17
Pumas 14 0 0 14 244 791 -547 31 110 4 4

Points Breakdown

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  • Four points for a win
  • Two points for a draw
  • One bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
  • One bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

Table Notes

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P = Played, W = Won, D = Drew, L = Lost, PF = Points Scored (Points For), PA = Points Conceded (Points Against), PD = Points Difference (Points For minus Points Against), TF = Tries Scored, TA = Tries Conceded, BP = Bonus points, Pts = Total Points

Semi-finals

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2006-10-07
Blue Bulls 45–30 Western Province Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Attendance: 46,930
Referee: Marius Jonker
Tries: Derick Kuün (2), Marius Delport, Hilton Lobberts, Hottie Louw
Cons: Derick Hougaard (4)
Pens: Derick Hougaard (3)
Drops: Morné Steyn
Tries: Gerrie Britz (2), Bolla Conradie
Cons: Naas Olivier (3)
Pens: Naas Olivier (3)


2006-10-07
Free State Cheetahs 30–14 Sharks Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Attendance:
Referee: JC Fortuin
Tries: Gavin Passens (2), Ryno van der Merwe
Cons: Willem de Waal (3)
Pens: Willem de Waal (2), Meyer Bosman
Tries: JP Pietersen, Bismarck du Plessis
Cons: Ruan Pienaar (2)
Cards: Johan Ackermann   15' to 25'

Final

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2006-10-14
Free State Cheetahs 28–28
(a.e.t.)
Blue Bulls Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Attendance:
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Tries: Philip Burger, Kabamba Floors
Pens: Willem de Waal (5), Meyer Bosman
Tries: JP Nel (2), Marius Delport
Cons: Morné Steyn (2)
Pens: Derick Hougaard, Morné Steyn (2)
Cards: Johan Roets   42' to 52'
Dries Scholtz   52' to 62'

At the end of regular time the scores were level at 25-25 and the match went into extra-time for the first time in the Currie Cup's 127-year history. [1] After 20 minutes of extra-time, the game was still tied, each team having managed to score no more than a penalty goal. In the absence of a tie-breaker, the match was drawn — the first time since 1989 that a final had been drawn — and, with no clear winner, the cup was shared by the two teams.

Statistics

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Top point scorers

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Name Tries Conversions Penalties Drop goals Total
Willem de Waal 3 40 37 2 212
Conrad Barnard 1 31 27 2 154
Morné Steyn 6 30 14 2 138
Naas Olivier 1 36 20 0 137
Louis Strydom 0 18 21 3 108

Top try scorers

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Name Tries
Philip Burger 15
Jaco Pretorius 11
Ryno van der Merwe 9
Luke Watson 8
Marius Delport 7

References

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  1. ^ "SEC to play in Premier Division". Planet Rugby. 21 November 2005. Archived from the original on 6 February 2006. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  2. ^ "Spears placed under provisional liquidation". Mail & Guardian. 15 February 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  3. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Wildeklawer Griquas 22–60 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 23 September 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2016.