2006 Currie Cup Premier Division (original) (raw)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Domestic rugby union competition

2006 Currie Cup Premier Division
Countries South Africa
Date 23 June – 14 October 2006
Champions Joint champions: Blue Bulls (22nd title) Free State Cheetahs (3rd title)
Runners-up Blue Bulls
20052007

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.

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.

Changes from previous season

[edit]

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.

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.

Location of teams in 2005 Currie Cup Premier Division

2005 Currie Cup Premier Division teams
Team Sponsored Name Stadium/s Sponsored Name
Blue Bulls Vodacom Blue Bulls Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Loftus Versfeld
Falcons Medicover Falcons Bosman Stadium, Brakpan Bosman Stadium
Free State Cheetahs Vodacom Free State Cheetahs Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Vodacom Park
Golden Lions Golden Lions Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Ellis Park Stadium
Griquas Wildeklawer Griquas Griqua Park, Kimberley ABSA Park
Sharks Sharks Kings Park Stadium, Durban ABSA Stadium
Pumas @lantic Pumas Puma Stadium, Witbank @lantic Park
Western Province Vodacom Western Province Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Newlands Stadium

Fixtures and results

[edit]

| | 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 |

2006-06-23
Blue Bulls 18–16 Falcons Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaAttendance: Referee: Craig Joubert
Tries: JP Nel, Stefan BassonCon: Morné SteynPens: Morné Steyn (2)Card: JP Nel yellow card 1' to 11' Try: Riaan Viljoen Con: Louis StrydomPens: Louis Strydom (3)Card: Dewald Senekal yellow card 26' to 36'
2006-06-23
Sharks 33–22 Golden Lions ABSA Stadium, DurbanAttendance: Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Tries: Carl Bezuidenhout, Jacques Botes, Andries Strauss, Bismarck du PlessisCons: Butch James (2)Pens: Butch James (3)Card: Johann Muller yellow card 77' to 80' Tries: Wylie Human (3), Jaco Pretorius Con: Rory Kockott
2006-07-01
Griquas 60–26 Pumas ABSA Park, KimberleyAttendance: Referee: Willie Roos
Tries: Heinrich Stride (2), Zane Kirchner (2), Lafras Uys, Gareth Krause, Vuyani DlomoCons: Conrad Barnard (5)Pens: Conrad Barnard (5) Tries: Pieter Benadé (2), Hendrik Meyer, Jacques MullerCons: Jeandré Fourie (3)
2006-09-01
Golden Lions 39–28 Free State Cheetahs Ellis Park, JohannesburgAttendance: Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Tries: Jaco Pretorius, Ricky Januarie, Wikus van Heerden, Wylie Human, Jaco van SchalkwykCons: Earl Rose (4)Pens: Earl Rose, Mark HarrisCard: Ricky Januarie yellow card 54' to 64' Tries: Philip Burger (2), Kabamba Floors, Ryno van der MerweCons: Willem de Waal (4)
2006-09-01
Western Province 23–12 Blue Bulls Newlands Stadium, Cape TownAttendance: ~36,000Referee: Mark Lawrence
Tries: Gio Aplon (2)Cons: Naas Olivier (2)Pens: Naas Olivier (3)Card: De Wet Barry yellow card 6' to 16' Tries: Frikkie Welsh, Morné SteynCon: Morné SteynCard: Francois van Schouwenburg yellow card 9' to 19'
2006-09-23
Griquas 22–60 Blue Bulls ABSA Park, KimberleyAttendance: 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 ScholtzCons: Morné Steyn (7) Pen: Morné Steyn
2006-09-23
Falcons 64–41 Pumas Bosman Stadium, BrakpanAttendance: 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 LombaardCons: Jeandre Fourie (5) Pens: Jeandre Fourie (2)
2006-09-23
Free State Cheetahs 37–35 Sharks Vodacom Park, BloemfonteinAttendance: Referee: Willie Roos
Tries: Richardt Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Ryno van der MerweCons: 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, JohannesburgAttendance: 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)
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

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

2006-10-07
Blue Bulls 45–30 Western Province Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaAttendance: 46,930Referee: 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, BloemfonteinAttendance: 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 yellow card 15' to 25'
2006-10-14
Free State Cheetahs 28–28 (a.e.t.) Blue Bulls Vodacom Park, BloemfonteinAttendance: 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 yellow card 42' to 52' Dries Scholtz yellow card 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.

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