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.
Contents |
| 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, 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' |
| 2006-06-23 | |||
| Natal 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 |
| 2006-07-01 | |||
| Griquas | 60–26 | Pumas | ABSA Park, Kimberley Attendance: Referee: Willie Roos |
| 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) |
| 2006-09-01 | |||
| Golden Lions | 39–28 | Free State Cheetahs | Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: Referee: Jonathan Kaplan |
| Tries: Jaco Pretorius, Enrico Januarie, Wikus van Heerden, Wylie Human, Jaco van Schalkwyk Cons: Earl Rose (4) Pens: Earl Rose, Mark Harris Card: Enrico 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' |
| 2006-09-23 | |||
| Griquas | 22–62 | Blue Bulls | ABSA Park, Kimberley Attendance: Referee: Craig Joubert |
| 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 |
| 2006-09-23 | |||
| Falcons | 64–41 | Pumas | Bosman Stadium, Brakpan Attendance: 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 Lombaard Cons: Jeandre Fourie (5) Pens: Jeandre Fourie (2) |
| 2006-09-23 | |||
| Free State Cheetahs | 37–35 | Natal Sharks | Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein Attendance: Referee: Willie Roos |
| 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) |
| 2006-09-23 | |||
| Golden Lions | 42–36 | Western Province | Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 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 |
| Natal 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, Pretoria Attendance: 46,930 Referee: 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 | Natal 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' |
| 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. [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 |
| Morne 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 |
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