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.

2008 Currie Cup First Division
Official logo
Champions	Griffons
Matches played	33
Tries scored	228 (average 6.9 per match)
Top point scorer	Clayton Durand, Leopards (176)
Top try scorer	Deon van Rensburg, Leopards (11)

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)
	Pumas	1 (2005)
Griffons	1 (2008)
4th	Platinum Leopards	-	4 (2001, 2003, 2006, 2008)
5th	Mighty Elephants	-	2 (2000, 2007)
	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:[1]

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

Knock Out Stage

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

References

1. "SA Rugby Log – 2008 ABSA Currie Cup First Div". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 May 2016.

• Currie Cup
• 2008 Currie Cup Premier Division
• ABSA

External links

• "SA Rugby Results – 2008 ABSA Currie Cup First Div". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 6 May 2016.