2008 Currie Cup Premier Division

The 2008 Currie Cup Premier Division season (known as the ABSA Currie Cup due to sponsorship) was contested from 20 June through to 25 October. The Currie Cup is an annual domestic competition for provincial rugby union teams in South Africa.

The 2007 Champions, the Free State Cheetahs, were denied a place in the final when they were defeated by the Blue Bulls in their semifinal clash in Pretoria on 11 October.

The Sharks ended a 12-year wait for a trophy by winning 14–9 in the final against the Blue Bulls in Durban on 25 October.

Current standings

Updated 6 October 2008:^[1]

Format

• 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 = Drawn
• L = Lost
• PF = Points for
• PA = Points against
• PD = Points difference (PF−PA)
• TF = Tries for
• TA = Tries against
• BP = Bonus points
• Pts = Total points

Teams

• Boland Cavaliers
• Sharks
• Blue Bulls
• Free State Cheetahs
• Western Province
• Griquas
• Falcons
• Lions

Currie Cup compulsory friendlies

Round 1

Round 1 summary

• The
  Griquas in Kimberley
  .
• Falcons in their opening match at Bosman Stadium in Brakpan
  .
• Western Province in Durban
  .
• Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg
  .

Round 2

19:00 2008-06-27

Sharks	38–13	Boland Cavaliers
Tries: Jacques Botes (2) Riaan Swanepoel, Henno Mentz, Con: Monty Dumond (3) Pen: Rory Kockott (2), Monty Dumond (2)		Tries: Lionel Cornelius Con: Justin Peach Pen: Justin Peach, Lionel Cornelius Card: Piet van Zyl 58' to 68', Angelo Brinkhuys 66' to 76',

ABSA Stadium, Durban Referee: JC Fortuin (South Africa)

15:00 2008-06-28

Griquas
Tries: Riaan Smit, Ernie Kruger, Len Olivier Con: Jacques Schutte (3) Pen: Jacques Schutte (5)		Tries: Herkie Kruger (cpt), Steph Roberts, Stephan Gerber Con: Conrad Barnard (3) Pen: Conrad Barnard (3)

Bosman Stadium, Brakpan Referee: Pro Legoete (South Africa)

15:00 2008-06-28

Earl Rose (6)

Park, Bloemfontein Referee: Christie de Preez (South Africa)

17:05 2008-06-28

Western Province	26–17	Blue Bulls
Tries: Gio Aplon, Gcobani Bobo Con: Willem de Waal (2) Pen: Willem de Waal (4)		Tries: JP Joubert, Pedrie Wannenburg Con: Morné Steyn (2) Pen: DG: Morné Steyn Card: Hilton Lobberts 68' to 78'

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Referee: Phillip Bosch (South Africa)

Round 2 summary

• Sharks scored their second win in as many matches, beating the Boland Cavaliers 38–13 in their match in Durban and go to the top of the standings.
• The
  Griquas 36–30 in Brakpan
  .
• With a much-improved performance from the Lions in their clash against the Free State Cheetahs. It was the home side that held their head to seal a close victory.
• Western Province produced a stirring fightback at the death of their clash against the Blue Bulls to record a 26–17 win over their traditional rivals at Newlands Stadium
  .

• A handful of spectators witnessed a 9–9 draw between
  Wellington
  .
• Coca-Cola Park
  .
• Western Province beat the Free State Cheetahs 9–3 in a dull match on a dull day at Newlands Stadium
  .
• The
  Loftus Versfeld
  .

• Falcons at ABSA Stadium in Durban
  , but it required a late surge against very willing opposition for the home side to earn the bonus point.
• Coca-Cola Park
  .
• The
  Western Province in Kimberley
  .
• The
  Loftus Versfeld
  , but failed to secure a vital bonus point.

Round 5

19:10 2008-07-18

Western Province
Tries: Dawid Pretorius, Len Olivier, Nicky Kritzinger, Rouan Cloete, Ryno Barnes Con: Len Olivier (5) Pen: Jeffrey Perkins Card: Johan Swartz  49'		Tries: Adriaan Fondse (2), Brok Harris, Wylie Human Con: Willem de Waal (3) Pen: Willem de Waal (2) Card:Ross Skeate 33' to 43', Francois Louw 65' to 75'

Bosman Stadium, Brakpan Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

15:00 2008-07-19

Wellington Referee: Pro Legoete (South Africa )

15:00 2008-07-19

Earl Rose (1)

ABSA Park, Kimberley Referee: Christie de Preez (South Africa)

17:05 2008-07-12

Mark Lawrence (South Africa )

Round 5 summary

• The
  Western Province their second defeat when they edged the Cape Town side 38–32 in an enthralling encounter in Brakpan
  .
• It wasn't the prettiest game of rugby, but the
  Wellington
  .
• The
  Griquas team in an 11-try thriller in Kimberley
  .
• The Free State Cheetahs bounced back into play-off contention when they smashed the sloppy Sharks team 31–9 in their match in Bloemfontein.

Round 6

Round 6 summary

• The defending champions, the
  Falcons as they raced a 55–14 win in their match in Bloemfontein
  .
• Western Province have redeemed the wobbly away leg of their campaign, with an emphatic 50–10 drubbing over their Cape counterparts Boland Cavaliers at Newlands
  .
• The Sharks squeezed home a late 16–11 victory over the Lions in Durban, sealing a hard-fought encounter that saw a plethora of missed opportunities from both sides.
• The
  Griquas
  match was postponed till 15 August 2008.

Round 7

19:10 2008-08-01

Falcons	7–50	Blue Bulls
Tries: Riaan Smit Con: Riaan Smit Pen: Card:Warren Perkins 49' to 59'		Tries: Wikus van Heerden (3), Werner Kruger, Rocco Jansen, Pedrie Wannenburg Con: Burton Francis, Morné Steyn (3) Pen: Morné Steyn (4) Card:Francois Hougaard 62' to 72'

Bosman Stadium, Brakpan Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Round 7 summary

• The
  Falcons team in Brakpan
  .
• Griquas down to earth, literally, with a bang, when they scored an emphatic 44–15 win in Kimberley
  .
• The defending champions
  Wellington
  .
• The
  Western Province in Johannesburg
  .

Round 8

16:00 2008-08-08

Wellington Referee: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa )

18:00 2008-08-08

Chris Rossouw Card:Gavin Passens 24' to 34', Cobus Calldo 60' to 70'

Tries: Con: Pen: Conrad Barnard Card:Cilliers Coetzer 11' to 21', Wayne van Heerden 60' to 70'

Park, Bloemfontein Referee: JC Fortuin (South Africa)

19:10 2008-08-08

Western Province	10–32	Sharks
Tries: Nick Köster Con: Joe Pietersen Pen: Joe Pietersen		Tries: Frédéric Michalak, Albert van den Berg, Skipper Badenhorst, Stefan Terblanche Con: Ruan Pienaar (3) Pen: Ruan Pienaar DG: Frédéric Michalak

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

19:10 2008-08-08

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa )

Round 8 summary

• The
  Wellington
  , after trailing 19–7 at the interval.
• The defending champion
  Griquas and cement their place in the top two in the standings with convincing 22–3 win in Bloemfontein
  .
• Western Province outfit in their Round Eight match at Newlands
  .
• The
  Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria
  .

• The Free State Cheetahs raced back to the top of the standings with a comfortable 38–28 win over the Lions in their match in Johannesburg.
• A flurry of tries, including a hat-trick from wing
  Falcons, to win 59–19 in their clash in Kimberley
  .
• Sharks ran in six tries to secure a coveted bonus point, in the convincing 41–7 victory over the Boland Cavaliers, despite a saturated pitch at Boland Stadium.
• A late
  Western Province in Pretoria, putting the hosts back on top of the standings after the Free State Cheetahs
  were on top of the standings for a week.

Round 10

19:10 2008-09-05

Earl Rose (6), Louis Strydom (3) Pen: Card: Jaco van Schalkwyk  63'

Bosman Stadium, Brakpan Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

15:00 2008-09-06

Western Province
Tries: Fabian Juries, Wilton Pietersen Con: Herman Bosman (2) Pen: Herman Bosman		Tries: Andries Bekker, Ricky Januarie, Jean de Villiers (cpt), Joe Pietersen Con: Peter Grant (3) Pen: Peter Grant (3) Card:Schalk Burger  29'  70'

Park, Bloemfontein Referee: Phillip Bosch (South Africa)

17:00 2008-09-06

W. P. Nel Con: Justin Peach(2) Pen: Justin Peach

ABSA Park, Kimberley Referee: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)

17:05 2008-09-06

Mark Lawrence (South Africa )

Round 10 summary

• The
  Falcons, courtesy of an 83–14 thumping at Bosman Stadium in Brakpan
  .
• Western Province managed to keep their slim hopes of a semifinal alive after a convincing 35–17 victory over the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein
  .
• Wing
  Griquas swept the challenge of the Boland Cavaliers aside with a 48–22 win at ABSA Park in Kimberley
  .
• Sharks moved into top spot on the standings after disposing of the Blue Bulls courtesy of a 34–25 win at ABSA Stadium in Durban.

Round 11

Round 11 summary

• The
  Loftus Versfeld
  .
• It was a leisurely Saturday stroll for
  Falcons
  outfit to a massive 92–15 win, and closing the gap further on the final four in the standings.
• The
  Griquas two in a valuable 41–20 victory in Johannesburg, seeing them pip past the Free State Cheetahs
  into third place in the standings.
• Sharks regained their position on the top of the table after a physical 22–10 victory over the defending champion Free State Cheetahs in Durban.

Round 12

19:10 2008-09-19

Griquas
Tries: Ricky Januarie, Jean de Villiers, Francois Louw, Tonderai Chavhanga Con: Peter Grant (2) Pen: Peter Grant (2)		Tries: Gareth Krause, Penalty try Con: Conrad Barnard Pen: Conrad Barnard (2) Card: Stefan Gerber 45' to 55'

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

Round 12 summary

• Griquas at Newlands
  .
• Kempton Park
  .
• The Lions managed to secure a much-needed bonus-point try in the final throes of their match against Boland Cavaliers.
• The Free State Cheetahs have dropped out of the play-off positions after a nervy performance against the Blue Bulls who condemned them to a 23–5 defeat at Park in Bloemfontein.

Round 13

19:10 2008-09-26

Falcons	7–78	Free State Cheetahs
Tries: Ryno Barnes Con: Jeffrey Perkins Pen: Card: Gert Lubbe 19' to 29', Jeffrey Perkins 56' to 66'		Tries: Penalty try, Duane Vermeulen, Heinrich Brüssow, Jacobus Jonker (2), Louis Potgieter, Jongi Nokwe (3), Kabamba Floors, Tewis de Bruyn (2) Con: Louis Potgieter, Tewis de Bruyn Pen:

Bosman Stadium, Brakpan Referee: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)

Round 13 summary

• The
  Griquas in Kimberley
  .
• The
  Falcons in Barkpan
  .
• Wellington
  , leaving their semifinal hopes in dire straits.
• The
  Wellington. Due to this referee Christie du Preez had to make a decision if it was fit to play at the Boland Stadium, Inspection to field took place on Saturday morning and it was rendered that the Boland Stadium
  was fine for the crucial match.
• Sharks have officially secured a home semifinal thanks to an emphatic 34–20 bonus point victory over the Lions, in their clash in Johannesburg.

Round 14

15:00 2008-10-04

Free State Cheetahs	50–40	Boland Cavaliers
Tries: Heinrich Brüssow, Jongi Nokwe, Juan Smith (2), Nico Breedt, Schalk van der Merwe, Tewis de Bruyn Con: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (5), Tewis de Bruyn Pen: Jacques-Louis Potgieter		Tries: Deon Scholtz, Elgar Watts, Josh Strauss, Willem van Zyl Con: Elgar Watts, Justin Peach (4) Pen: Card: David Hendricks 35' to 45', Angelo Brinkhuys 40' to 50'

Park, Bloemfontein Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

15:00 2008-10-04

Griquas
Tries: Albert van den Berg, François Steyn, Jacques Botes, John Smit, JP Pietersen (2), Keegan Daniel (3), Odwa Ndungane Con: Adrian Jacobs, Brad Barritt, Odwa Ndungane, Ruan Pienaar (5) Pen: Card: Brad Barritt 67' to 77'		Tries: Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius Con: Riaan Viljoen Pen:

ABSA Stadium, Durban Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

17:05 2008-10-04

Earl Rose (2) Card: Doppies la Grange 39' to 49'

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Round 14 summary

• The
  Falcons
• The Free State Cheetahs did enough to secure their passage to the semifinals courtesy of a 50–40 victory over the Boland Cavaliers in Bloemfontein.
• Griquas in Durban
  .
• Western Province 14-6 Lions

The Sharks ended a 12-year wait for a trophy by winning the final, against the Blue Bulls in Durban on Saturday 25 October, by 14–9. And they did it in style outscoring the Blue Bulls by two tries to nil.

Promotion/relegation matches

Round 1

Round 2

Promotion/relegation table

Results

• Boland Cavaliers manage to stay in the Premier Division.
• Platinum Leopards
  are promoted to the Premier Division.
• The
  Griffons just lost out to the Boland Cavaliers
  to remain in the First Division.
• The
  Platinum Leopards
  .

Statistics

Top point scorers

Name	Team	Tries	Conversions	Penalties	Drop goals	Total
Morné Steyn	Blue Bulls	2	37	33	3	192
Earl Rose	Lions	5	36	24	1	172
Conrad Barnard	Griquas	1	20	19	0	102
Ruan Pienaar	Sharks	1	25	13	0	87
Chris Rossouw	Free State Cheetahs	1	11	19	0	84

Top try scorers

Name	Team	Tries
Keegan Daniel	Sharks	9
MJ Mentz	Griquas	8
Jacques Botes	Sharks	8
John Mametsa	Blue Bulls	7
Jongi Nokwe	Free State Cheetahs	7

Disciplinary records by team

Team	Red cards	Yellow cards	Total cards
Falcons	1	10	11
Boland Cavaliers	0	9	9
Blue Bulls	0	7	7
Griquas	0	5	5
Western Province	0	5	5
Lions	1	4	5
Sharks	0	4	4
Free State Cheetahs	0	2	2

Worst disciplinary records by player

Name	Team	Red Cards	Yellow Cards	Total Cards
Johannes Swartz	Falcons	1	0	1
Jaco van Schalkwyk	Lions	1	0	1
Sean Plaatjies	Falcons	0	2	2
Angelo Brinkhuys	Boland Cavaliers	0	2	2
Stefan Basson	Boland Cavaliers	0	1	1

References

External links

• Latest Currie Cup News
• "SA Rugby Competition – 2008 ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 8 June 2016.