Misplaced Pages

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (July 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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.

Competition

Changes from previous season

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. However, the Southern Spears were later denied entry into the Super 14 competition and the South Eastern Cape's spot were given to Griquas instead.

Format

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

Fixtures and results

Round 1

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

• Saturday 24 June Cheetahs 55-14 Griquas Bloemfontein

Round 2

• Friday 30 June Falcons 9-66 Cheetahs Brakpan

• Saturday 1 July Western Province 25-28 Sharks Cape Town
• Saturday 1 July Golden Lions 24-39 Blue Bulls Johannesburg

Round 3

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

Round 14

• 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

Points Breakdown

• 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

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

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

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. 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

Top point scorers

Top try scorers

References

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.

• 2006 Currie Cup
• Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2006 in South African rugby union
• 2006 rugby union tournaments for clubs