# 2012 Vodacom Cup

The 2012 Vodacom Cup was played between 10 March and 18 May 2012 and was the 15th edition of this annual domestic cup competition. The Vodacom Cup is played between rugby union teams in South Africa from the Currie Cup Premier and First Divisions, as well as an invitational team, the Pampas XV from Argentina.

## Competition

There were fifteen teams participating in the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition. These teams were geographically divided into two sections - the Northern Section (with seven teams) and the Southern Section (with eight teams). Teams played all the teams in their section once over the course of the season, either at home or away.
Teams received four log points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus log points were awarded to teams that scored four or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by seven points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).
The top four teams in each section qualified for the title play-offs. In the quarter-finals, the teams that finished first in each section had home advantage against the teams that finished fourth in that section and the teams that finished second in each section had home advantage against the teams that finished third in that section. The winners of these quarter finals then played each other in the semi-finals, with the higher placed team having home advantage. The two semi-final winners then met in the final.

## Teams
### Changes from 2011

The Welwitschias from Namibia withdrew due to financial constraints.

### Team listing

The following teams took part in the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition:
Northern Section :
| Team | Sponsored Name | Stadium/s | Sponsored Name |
| Blue Bulls | Vodacom Blue Bulls | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | Loftus Versfeld |
| Falcons | Falcons | Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park | Barnard Stadium |
| Griffons | Griffons | North West Stadium, Welkom | North West Stadium |
| Griquas | GWK Griquas | Griqua Park, Kimberley | GWK Park |
| Golden Lions | MTN Golden Lions | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | Coca-Cola Stadium |
| Leopards | Leopards | Olën Park, Potchefstroom | Profert Olën Park |
| Pumas | Ford Pumas | Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela | Mbombela Stadium |
| Pumas | Ford Pumas | Puma Stadium, Witbank | Puma Stadium |
Southern Section :
| Team | Sponsored Name | Stadium/s | Sponsored Name |
| Boland Cavaliers | Regent Boland Cavaliers | Boland Stadium, Wellington | Boland Stadium |
| Boland Cavaliers | Regent Boland Cavaliers | Glaskasteel, Bredasdorp | Glaskasteel |
| Border Bulldogs | Border Bulldogs | Buffalo City Stadium, East London | Buffalo City Stadium |
| Border Bulldogs | Border Bulldogs | Mlungisi Rugby Field, Queenstown | Mlungisi Rugby Field |
| Eastern Province Kings | Eastern Province Kings | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium |
| Free State XV | Toyota Free State XV | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | Free State Stadium |
| Free State XV | Toyota Free State XV | Clive Solomon Stadium, Heidedal | Clive Solomon Stadium |
| Pampas XV | Standard Bank Pampas XV | A.F. Markötter Stadium, Stellenbosch | A.F. Markötter Stadium |
| Sharks XV | Sharks XV | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | Mr Price Kings Park |
| SWD Eagles | SWD Eagles | Outeniqua Park, George | Outeniqua Park |
| SWD Eagles | SWD Eagles | Bridgton Sports Grounds, Oudtshoorn | Bridgton Sports Grounds |
| SWD Eagles | SWD Eagles | D'Almeida Stadium, Mossel Bay | D'Almeida Stadium |
| Western Province | DHL Western Province | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | DHL Newlands |
| Western Province | DHL Western Province | City Park Stadium, Athlone | City Park Stadium |
| Western Province | DHL Western Province | Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch | Danie Craven Stadium |
| Western Province | DHL Western Province | Durbanville Rugby Club, Durbanville | Durbanville Rugby Club |

## Tables
### Northern Section

2012 Vodacom Cup Northern Section Table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Griquas | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 267 | 125 | +142 | 35 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 25 | Qualified for the Quarter Finals |
| 2 | Pumas | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 220 | 125 | +95 | 26 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 23 | Qualified for the Quarter Finals |
| 3 | Blue Bulls | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 212 | 116 | +96 | 27 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 21 | Qualified for the Quarter Finals |
| 4 | Golden Lions | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 224 | 193 | +31 | 29 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 17 | Qualified for the Quarter Finals |
| 5 | Leopards | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 146 | 182 | −36 | 17 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 12 | |
| 6 | Falcons | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 134 | 312 | −178 | 17 | 44 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
| 7 | Griffons | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 132 | 282 | −150 | 18 | 41 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |
* 4 points for a win
* 2 points for a draw
* 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
* 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

### Southern Section

2012 Vodacom Cup Southern Section Table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Western Province | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 220 | 130 | +90 | 24 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 32 | Qualified for the Quarter Finals |
| 2 | Sharks XV | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 223 | 138 | +85 | 25 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 26 | Qualified for the Quarter Finals |
| 3 | Eastern Province Kings | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 209 | 178 | +31 | 21 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 24 | Qualified for the Quarter Finals |
| 4 | Pampas XV | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 216 | 181 | +35 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 21 | Qualified for the Quarter Finals |
| 5 | Boland Cavaliers | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 217 | 225 | −8 | 27 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 21 | |
| 6 | Free State XV | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 211 | 259 | −48 | 28 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 14 | |
| 7 | Border Bulldogs | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 165 | 271 | −106 | 17 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
| 8 | SWD Eagles | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 176 | 255 | −79 | 23 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
* 4 points for a win
* 2 points for a draw
* 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
* 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

## Fixtures and results
### Northern Section
#### Round one

* Bye/s: Griffons

#### Round two

* Bye/s: Leopards

#### Round three

* Bye/s: Griquas

#### Round four

* Bye/s: Falcons

#### Round Five

* Bye/s: Pumas

#### Round Six

* Bye/s: Blue Bulls

#### Round Seven

* Bye/s: Golden Lions

### Final
## Winners

* 2012 Vodacom Cup
* CHAMPIONS
* Western Province
* 1st title

## Top scorers

The following sections contain only points and tries which have been scored in competitive games in the 2012 Vodacom Cup.