# 2008 Currie Cup First Division

The 2008 Absa Currie Cup First Division season was contested from 27 June through to 10 October. The Currie Cup is an annual domestic competition for provincial rugby union teams in South Africa.

## History

* The Absa Currie Cup First Division, as it is today known, is the ninth season of the competition.
* The competition was first contested in 2000 when it was known as the Bankfin Cup and played alongside the Bankfin Currie Cup. It later became known as the Absa Cup and, from 2004, the Absa Currie Cup First Division.
* The first winners of the competition were the Vodacom Blue Bulls who, just two seasons later, would go on to win the Absa Currie Cup title three years in succession.
* Boland Kavaliers have won the title three times.
* Boland Kavaliers and the Platinum Leopards have met in the final three times – 2001, 2003 and 2006 – with the Platinum Leopards winning all three matches.

### No of First Division titles

| Pos. | Team | Champion | Runner-up |
| 1st | Boland Kavaliers | 4 (2001, 2003, 2004, 2006) |
| 2nd | SWD Eagles | 2 (2002, 2007) |
| 3rd | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 1 (2000) |
| 3rd | Pumas | 1 (2005) |
| 3rd | Griffons | 1 (2008) |
| 4th | Platinum Leopards | - | 4 (2001, 2003, 2006, 2008) |
| 5th | Mighty Elephants | - | 2 (2000, 2007) |
| 5th | Border Bulldogs | - | 2 (2002, 2004) |
| 6th | Valke | - | 1 (2005) |

## Overview

The winner of the final plays against the team that are at the bottom of the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division standings and the runner-up plays the 2nd last team on the log for a chance to be promoted to the Premier Division. The SWD Eagles won the final of the 2007 Currie Cup First Division 38 – 3 against the Mighty Elephants, and faced the Valke in the playoff matches. The Mighty Elephants faced the Boland Kavaliers in their two leg matches.

## Teams

The SWD Eagles and the Mighty Elephants did not get promoted to the Premier Division. They both lost both their matches against the Valke and the Boland Kavaliers.
* The teams are listed in alphabetical order:
* Mighty Elephants from Port Elizabeth
* Border Bulldogs from East London
* Griffons from Welkom
* Platinum Leopards from Potchefstroom
* Pumas from Witbank
* SWD Eagles from George

## Final standings

2008 Absa Currie Cup First Div :
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | BP | Pts |
| Platinum Leopards | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 438 | 262 | 176 | 57 | 29 | 9 | 41 |
| Griffons | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 303 | 214 | 89 | 30 | 23 | 4 | 32 |
| SWD Eagles | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 307 | 262 | 45 | 41 | 28 | 9 | 29 |
| Pumas | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 268 | 362 | -94 | 33 | 48 | 8 | 24 |
| Border Bulldogs | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 232 | 366 | -134 | 26 | 47 | 3 | 19 |
| Mighty Elephants | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 238 | 320 | -82 | 27 | 39 | 5 | 13 |
Updated 29 September 2008:

### 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 = points
* W = Won
* D = Drawn
* L = Lost
* PF = points for
* P = Points Against
* PD = Points Difference (PF - PA)
* TF = Tries For
* TA = Tries Against
* BP = Bonus points
* Pts = Total Points

## Compulsory Friendlies

* 15:00 2008-05-31
| East Cape XV | 17 – 63 | Vodacom Western Province |
* ABSA Stadium, East London Referee: Christie du Preez
* 18:00 2008-06-06
| SWD Eagles | 15 – 29 | Vodacom Blue Bulls |
* Outeniqua Park, George Referee: Joey Salmans
* 19:00 2008-06-13
| Griffons | 15 – 44 | Sharks |
* North West Stadium, Welkom Referee: Mark Lawrence
* 19:00 2008-06-13
| Platinum Leopards | 19 – 40 | Vodacom FS Cheetahs |
* Santam Olën Park, Potchefstroom Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
* 19:00 2008-06-13
| East Cape XV | 9 – 26 | Xerox Lions |
* EPRFU Stadium, Port Elizabeth Referee: Jaco Peyper
* 19:00 2008-08-29
| Pumas | 22 – 28 | Griquas |
* Ermelo HS, Ermelo Referee: James Bolabiu

## Week One

* 19:00 2008-06-27
| Pumas | 32 – 30 | Mighty Elephants |
| Tries: Thyse 30' c Terblanche 50' m Marx 55' c Sithole 74' c Con: Coetzee (1/2) Marx (2/2) Pen: Coetzee 17' (1/4) Marx 60' (1/1) Cards: Thyse 38' to 50' | | Tries: Nel 25' c Jacobs 65' c Booysen 80'+4' m Nelson 80'+8' m Con: Gallinetti (2/4) Pen: Gallinetti 39', 40'+3' (2/3) |
* Puma Stadium, Witbank Referee: Deon van Blommestein
* 16:00 2008-06-28
| Griffons | 34 – 31 | SWD Eagles |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* North West Stadium, Welkom Referee: Jaco Peyper
Bye :
| Platinum Leopards | Border Bulldogs |

## Week Two

* 19:00 2008-07-04
| Border Bulldogs | 14 – 30 | Griffons |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Absa Stadium, East London Referee: Pro Legoete
* 15:30 2008-07-05
| Mighty Elephants | 23 – 47 | Platinum Leopards |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* EPRFU Stadium, Port Elizabeth Referee: Deon van Blommestein
Bye :
| Pumas | SWD Eagles |

## Week Three

* 19:00 2008-07-11
| Pumas | 23 – 27 | Border Bulldogs |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Puma Stadium, Witbank Referee: JC Fortuin
* 16:00 2008-07-12
| Platinum Leopards | 41 – 33 | SWD Eagles |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom Referee: Christie du Preez
Bye :
| Griffons | Mighty Elephants |

## Week Four

* 19:00 2008-07-18
| Border Bulldogs | 19 – 29 | Platinum Leopards |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Absa Stadium, East London Referee: Phillip Bosch
* 15:00 2008-07-19
| SWD Eagles | 29 – 6 | Mighty Elephants |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Outeniqua Park, George Referee: Francois Veldsman
* 16:30 2008-07-19
| Griffons | 24 – 30 | Pumas |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* North West Stadium, Welkom Referee: Jaco Peyper

## Week Five

* 15:00 2008-07-26
| SWD Eagles | 48 – 7 | Border Bulldogs |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Outeniqua Park, George Referee: Christie du Preez
* 15:30 2008-07-26
| Mighty Elephants | 27 – 19 | Griffons |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* EPRFU Stadium, Port Elizabeth Referee: Deon van Blommestein
* 16:00 2008-07-26
| Platinum Leopards | 54 – 14 | Pumas |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom Referee: Phillip Bosch

## Week Six

* 19:00 2008-08-01
| Border Bulldogs | 28 – 16 | Mighty Elephants |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Absa Stadium, East London Referee: JC Fortuin
* 15:00 2008-08-02
| SWD Eagles | 31 – 20 | Pumas |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Outeniqua Park, George Referee: Wayne Barnes
* 16:00 2008-08-02
| Griffons | 23 – 29 | Platinum Leopards |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* North West Stadium, Welkom Referee: Joey Salmans

## Week Seven

* 19:00 2008-08-08
| Pumas | 12 – 28 | Griffons |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Puma Stadium, Witbank Referee: Christie du Preez
* 16:00 2008-08-09
| Platinum Leopards | 53 – 23 | Border Bulldogs |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom Referee: Pro Legoete
* 16:00 2008-08-09
| Mighty Elephants | 21 – 26 | SWD Eagles |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* EPRFU Stadium, Port Elizabeth Referee: Gareth Lloyd-Jones

## Week Eight

* 19:00 2008-08-22
| Platinum Leopards | 51 – 27 | Mighty Elephants |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom Referee: Deon van Blommestein
* 16:30 2008-07-30
| Griffons | 50 – 9 | Border Bulldogs |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* North West Stadium, Welkom Referee: JC Fortuin
Bye :
| SWD Eagles | Pumas |

## Week Nine

* 19:00 2008-09-05
| Border Bulldogs | 45 – 40 | Pumas |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Absa Stadium, East London Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
* 15:00 2008-09-06
| SWD Eagles | 35 – 34 | Platinum Leopards |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Outeniqua Park, George Referee: Willie Roos
Bye :
| Griffons | Mighty Elephants |

## Week Ten

* 19:00 2008-09-12
| Pumas | 36 – 22 | SWD Eagles |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Witbank Mica Stadium, Witbank Referee: Pro Legoete
* 16:00 2008-09-13
| Platinum Leopards | 23 – 36 | Griffons |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom Referee: Jaco Peyper
* 16:15 2008-09-13
| Mighty Elephants | 44 – 23 | Border Bulldogs |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* EPRFU Stadium, Port Elizabeth Referee: Joey Salmans

## Week Eleven

* 19:00 2008-09-19
| Pumas | 29 – 77 | Platinum Leopards |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Puma Stadium, Witbank Referee: Willie Roos
* 19:00 2008-09-19
| Border Bulldogs | 37 – 33 | SWD Eagles |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Absa Stadium, East London Referee: Francois Veldsman
* 16:00 2008-09-20
| Griffons | 33 – 20 | Mighty Elephants |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* North West Stadium, Welkom Referee: JC Fortuin

## Week Twelve

* 19:00 2008-09-27
| SWD Eagles | 19 – 26 | Griffons |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Outeniqua Park, George Referee: Joey Salmans
* 17:00 2008-09-27
| Mighty Elephants | 24 – 32 | Pumas |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Adcock Stadium, Port Elizabeth Referee: Gareth Lloyd-Jones
Bye :
| Platinum Leopards | Border Bulldogs |

## Knock Out Stage

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 2008-10-03 - Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom | 2008-10-03 - Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom |
| Platinum Leopards | 50 |
| Platinum Leopards | 50 | 2008-10-10 - Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom | 2008-10-10 - Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom |
| Pumas | 18 | 2008-10-10 - Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom | 2008-10-10 - Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom |
| Pumas | 18 | Platinum Leopards | 26 |
| 2008-10-04 - North West Stadium, Welkom | 2008-10-04 - North West Stadium, Welkom | | Platinum Leopards | 26 |
| 2008-10-04 - North West Stadium, Welkom | 2008-10-04 - North West Stadium, Welkom | Griffons | 31 |
| Griffons | 27 | Griffons | 31 |
| SWD Eagles | 17 | | |

## Semi finals

* 17:05 2008-10-03
| Platinum Leopards | 50 – 18 | Pumas |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom
* 15:00 2008-10-04
| Griffons | 27 – 17 | SWD Eagles |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* North West Stadium, Welkom

## Finals

* 19:10 2008-10-10
| Platinum Leopards | 26 – 31 | Griffons |
| Tries: Con: Pen: | | Tries: Con: Pen: |
* Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom
* 2008 Absa Currie Cup First Division Champions
* Griffons
* 1st title

## Promotion/relegation
### Round 1

* 16:30 2008-10-18
| Boland Kavaliers | 54 – 15 | Griffons |
| Tries: Danwel Demas, Deon Scholtz, Elgar Watts (4), Lionel Cornelius, Piet van Zyl Con: Elgar Watts, Justin Peach (6) Pen: | | Tries: Jacko Jackson, Sarel Louw Con: Jandré Blom Pen: Jandré Blom |
* Boland Stadium, Wellington Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
* 19:00 2008-10-18
| Valke | 24 – 29 | Platinum Leopards |
| Tries: Dewald Coetzee, Hanno Coetzee, Petrus van Rooyen Con: Jeffrey Perkins, Petrus van Rooyen (2) Pen: Jeffrey Perkins | | Tries: Jan Van Zyl, Willem Bouwer Con: Clayton Durand (2) Pen: Clayton Durand (5) |
* Bosman Stadium, Brakpan Referee: Willie Roos

### Round 2

* 16:00 2008-10-24
| Boland Kavaliers | 42 – 50 | Griffons |
| Tries: Angelo Brinkhuys, Bradley Mockford, Deon Scholtz (2), Dewey Swartbooi, Zolani Mofu Con: Justin Peach (5), Lionel Cornelius Pen: | | Tries: Andries Kruger, Darryl Coeries, Hugo Kleynhans, Jacko Jackson, Jandré Blom, Jaun de Wit, Ockie van Zyl Con: Jandré Blom (2), Kennedy Tsimba (4) Pen: DG: Jandré Blom |
* North West Stadium, Welkom Referee: Craig Joubert
* 18:00 2008-10-24
| Valke | 19 – 27 | Platinum Leopards |
| Tries: Petrus van Rooyen Con: Petrus van Rooyen Pen: Petrus van Rooyen | | Tries: Jan Van Zyl, Vuyo Zangqa Con: Diederik Botha Pen: Clayton Durand (3), Diederik Botha (2) |
* Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom Referee: Marius Jonker

### Promotion/relegation Table

Promotion/relegation :
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | BP | Pts |
| Platinum Leopards | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 43 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| Boland Kavaliers | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 96 | 65 | 31 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 6 |
| Griffons | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 65 | 96 | -31 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 5 |
| Valke | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 56 | -13 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 |

### Results

* Boland Kavaliers manage to stay in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division.
* Platinum Leopards are promoted to the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division.
* The Griffons just lost out to the Boland Kavaliers to remain in the First Division.
* The Valke are relegated to the Absa Currie Cup First Division after losing both their matches against the Platinum Leopards.

## Statistics
### Top 5 point scorers

| Name | Team | Tries | Conversions | Penalties | Drop goals | Total |
| Clayton Durand | Platinum Leopards | 0 | 43 | 29 | 1 | 176 |
| Kennedy Tsimba | Griffons | 4 | 14 | 24 | 0 | 120 |
| Jeff Taljard | Border Bulldogs | 3 | 14 | 16 | 0 | 91 |
| Ambrose Barends | SWD Eagles | 0 | 15 | 18 | 0 | 84 |
| Rudi Vogt | Pumas | 1 | 14 | 16 | 0 | 81 |

### Top 5 try scorers

| Name | Team | Tries |
| Deon van Rensburg | Platinum Leopards | 11 |
| Jan van Zyl | Platinum Leopards | 10 |
| Vuyo Zangqa | Platinum Leopards | 10 |
| Cecil Afrika | Griffons | 8 |
| Norman Nelson | Mighty Elephants | 7 |

### Disciplinary Records by Team

| Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards | Total Cards |
| Pumas | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Mighty Elephants | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Border Bulldogs | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Platinum Leopards | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Griffons | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| SWD Eagles | 1 | 2 | 3 |

### Top 5 Disciplinary Records by Player

| Name | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards | Total Cards |
| Michael Vermaak | Mighty Elephants | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Doppies le Roux | SWD Eagles | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Shaun Jacques Nel | Mighty Elephants | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Nomani Tonga | Border Bulldogs | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Jacques Coetzee | Pumas | 0 | 2 | 2 |