# 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.
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

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

| | 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

| 2006-06-23 |
| 2006-06-23 | Blue Bulls | 18–16 | Falcons | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: Referee: Craig Joubert |
| 2006-06-23 | 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' | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: Referee: Craig Joubert |
* Friday 23 June Pumas 18-25 Western Province Witbank
| 2006-06-23 |
| 2006-06-23 | Sharks | 33–22 | Golden Lions | ABSA Stadium, Durban Attendance: Referee: Jonathan Kaplan |
| 2006-06-23 | 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 | ABSA Stadium, Durban Attendance: Referee: Jonathan Kaplan |
* Saturday 24 June Cheetahs 55-14 Griquas Bloemfontein

### Round 2

* Friday 30 June Falcons 9-66 Cheetahs Brakpan
| 2006-07-01 |
| 2006-07-01 | Griquas | 60–26 | Pumas | ABSA Park, Kimberley Attendance: Referee: Willie Roos |
| 2006-07-01 | 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) | ABSA Park, Kimberley Attendance: Referee: Willie Roos |
* 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 |
| 2006-09-01 | Golden Lions | 39–28 | Free State Cheetahs | Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: Referee: Jonathan Kaplan |
| 2006-09-01 | 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) | Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: Referee: Jonathan Kaplan |
| 2006-09-01 |
| 2006-09-01 | Western Province | 23–12 | Blue Bulls | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: ~36,000 Referee: Mark Lawrence |
| 2006-09-01 | 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' | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: ~36,000 Referee: Mark Lawrence |
* 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

| 2006-09-23 |
| 2006-09-23 | Griquas | 22–60 | Blue Bulls | ABSA Park, Kimberley Attendance: Referee: Craig Joubert | Report |
| 2006-09-23 | 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 | ABSA Park, Kimberley Attendance: Referee: Craig Joubert |
| 2006-09-23 |
| 2006-09-23 | Falcons | 64–41 | Pumas | Bosman Stadium, Brakpan Attendance: Referee: Deon van Blommestein |
| 2006-09-23 | 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) | Bosman Stadium, Brakpan Attendance: Referee: Deon van Blommestein |
| 2006-09-23 |
| 2006-09-23 | Free State Cheetahs | 37–35 | Sharks | Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein Attendance: Referee: Willie Roos |
| 2006-09-23 | 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) | Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein Attendance: Referee: Willie Roos |
| 2006-09-23 |
| 2006-09-23 | Golden Lions | 42–36 | Western Province | Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: Referee: Marius Jonker |
| 2006-09-23 | 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) | Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: Referee: Marius Jonker |

### 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

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

* 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 |
| 2006-10-07 | Blue Bulls | 45–30 | Western Province | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: 46,930 Referee: Marius Jonker |
| 2006-10-07 | 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) | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: 46,930 Referee: Marius Jonker |
| 2006-10-07 |
| 2006-10-07 | Free State Cheetahs | 30–14 | Sharks | Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein Attendance: Referee: JC Fortuin |
| 2006-10-07 | 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' | Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein Attendance: Referee: JC Fortuin |

## Final

| 2006-10-14 |
| 2006-10-14 | Free State Cheetahs | 28–28 (a.e.t.) | Blue Bulls | Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein Attendance: Referee: Jonathan Kaplan |
| 2006-10-14 | 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' | Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein Attendance: Referee: Jonathan Kaplan |
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

| 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

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