2015 Currie Cup Premier Division

The 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division was the 77th season in the competition since it started in 1889 and was contested from 7 August to 24 October 2015. The tournament (known as the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division for sponsorship reasons) was the top tier of South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition.

The competition was won by the Golden Lions for the eleventh time in their history; they beat Western Province 32–24 in the final played on 24 October 2015.

There were eight participating teams in the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division.^[1][2]

The six franchise 'anchor' teams automatically qualified to the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division, as did the Pumas by virtue of finishing in the top six teams in the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division. Griquas, who finished 7th in 2014, as well as the six teams in the 2014 Currie Cup First Division, took part in a qualification tournament to determine the final participant.

The qualification competition was won by Griquas for the second year in succession.

The eight teams were divided into two sections, based on their 2014 positions. Teams in each section played each other twice over the course of the season, once at home and once away. Teams also played cross-section matches, playing one match (either home or away) against the teams in the other section.

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 4 teams qualified for the title play-offs. In the semifinals, the team that finished first had home advantage against the team that finish fourth, while the team that finished second had home advantage against the team that finished third. The winners of these semi-finals played each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.

Blue Bulls

Eastern Province Kings

Free State Cheetahs

Golden Lions

Griquas

Pumas

Sharks

Western Province

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Location of teams in 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division

The final log of the round-robin stage of the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division was:^[3]

The table below shows each team's progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets:

The following matches were played for the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division:^[4]

Defending champions Western Province began their defence of the title with a 43–19 win over qualifier Griquas in Kimberley. They ran in six tries, with South Africa Sevens international Seabelo Senatla getting two tries, while Demetri Catrakilis scored 13 points for the winning side. The Pumas won their home match against the Sharks for the second year in a row, prevailing 33–24 in Nelspruit. Both teams scored three tries, two of those from Pumas loose-forward Marnus Schoeman, with the boot of Pumas fly-half JC Roos proving decisive, kicking 18 points by successfully converting all seven of his attempts at goal. 2014 losing finalists the Golden Lions won 51–14 against the 2014 bottom side, the Eastern Province Kings. Golden Lions loose-forward Kwagga Smith scored a hat-trick of tries to help secure a four-try bonus points as early as the 16th minute of the match, while fly-half Marnitz Boshoff contributed 21 points, by successfully converting all nine kicks at goal during the match. The biggest win of the weekend came in Bloemfontein, where the Blue Bulls ran in six tries to beat the Free State Cheetahs 57–19. Blue Bulls fly-half Tian Schoeman topped the scoring charts after Round One, kicking five conversions and four penalties for a total of 22 points in the match, while scrum-half Francois Hougaard scored two tries for the Blue Bulls to send them top of the log.^[5]

	7 August 2015	Griquas	19–43	Western Province	Griqua Park, Kimberley
	15:30	Try: AJ le Roux  11' Riaan Viljoen  57' Ruhan Nel  65' Con: Gouws Prinsloo  12' (1/1) Ntabeni Dukisa  66' (1/2)	Report[6] Scoreboard[7]	Try: Nizaam Carr  8' Seabelo Senatla  20', 52' Dillyn Leyds  27' Sikhumbuzo Notshe  71' Juan de Jongh  74' Con: Demetri Catrakilis  9', 21', 28', 53', 72' (5/5) Kurt Coleman (0/1) Pen: Demetri Catrakilis  14' (1/3) Cards: Jean Kleyn 24' to 34' Rynhardt Elstadt  61'	Attendance: 3,500 Referee: Jaco Peyper

	7 August 2015	Pumas	33–24	Sharks	Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela
	18:00	Try: Stefan Watermeyer  11' Marnus Schoeman  30', 37' Con: JC Roos  12', 31', 38' (3/3) Pen: JC Roos  15', 24', 47', 79' (4/4)	Report[8] Scoreboard[9]	Try: Lionel Cronjé  25' Heimar Williams  41' Dan du Preez  63' Con: Joe Pietersen  26', 42', 64' (3/3) Pen: Joe Pietersen  72' (1/1)	Attendance: 4,750 Referee: Jaco van Heerden

	8 August 2015	Eastern Province Kings	14–51	Golden Lions	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
	14:15	Try: Sylvian Mahuza  19' Simon Kerrod  53' Con: Scott van Breda  20', 54' (2/2) Cards: Schalk Ferreira 66' to 76'	Report[10] Scoreboard[11]	Try: Kwagga Smith  1', 16', 68' Courtnall Skosan  6' Howard Mnisi  13' Anthony Volmink  77' Con: Marnitz Boshoff  69', 78', 2', 7', 14', 17' (6/6) Pen: Marnitz Boshoff  34', 50', 58' (3/3) Drop: Marnitz Boshoff (0/1)	Attendance: 3,068 Referee: Quinton Immelman

	8 August 2015	Free State Cheetahs	19–57	Blue Bulls	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
	14:15	Try: Boom Prinsloo  4' Shaun Venter  60' Clayton Blommetjies  76' Con: Niel Marais  5' (1/1) Fred Zeilinga  61' (1/2) Pen: Niel Marais (0/1)	Report[12] Scoreboard[13]	Try: Jamba Ulengo  12' Deon Stegmann  16' Francois Hougaard  40', 63' Warrick Gelant  46' Travis Ismaiel  72' Con: Tian Schoeman  13', 17', 40', 47', 64' (5/5) Louis Fouché  73' (1/1) Pen: Tian Schoeman  30', 38', 55', 69' (4/4) Louis Fouché  80' (1/1)	Attendance: 32,849 Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

The Friday night action saw both the Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions extend their unbeaten runs in the competition by notching their second wins in a row. The Blue Bulls overturned a 6–12 deficit to score four second-half tries in a 36–12 victory over Griquas, who lost for the second consecutive match. Fly-half Tian Schoeman kicked 16 points for the Blue Bulls and also scored one of the Blue Bulls' tries. The Golden Lions scored five tries – two of those penalty tries – to the Pumas' three to prevail 44–27 in Johannesburg in a clash between two previously unbeaten sides that saw three players sent to the sin-bin. All eight tries in the match were successfully converted by the Golden Lions' Marnitz Boshoff (who also scored two penalties and a drop goal for a personal tally of 19 points) and the Pumas' JC Roos. There were no tries in the match in Cape Town as Western Province won their second match in succession by edging the clash 9–3 against a Free State Cheetahs side who had three players sin-binned, a result that saw the latter lose their second consecutive match, but gain a losing bonus point. The Sharks and the Eastern Province Kings each scored four tries in their clash in Durban, which saw the hosts get their first win of the season to move into fourth position on the log while the EP Kings' bonus points kept them in seventh, one point clear of Griquas.^[14]

	14 August 2015	Blue Bulls	36–12	Griquas	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
	19:10	Try: Dayan van der Westhuizen  59' Tian Schoeman  64' Francois Hougaard  67' Jamba Ulengo  78' Con: Tian Schoeman  66', 68' (2/3) Louis Fouché (0/1) Pen: Tian Schoeman  6', 39', 48', 58' (4/5)	Report[15] Scoreboard[16]	Try: Ruhan Nel  10' Ntabeni Dukisa  35' Con: Gouws Prinsloo  36' (1/2) Pen: Gouws Prinsloo (0/2) Drop: Ruhan Nel (0/1)	Referee: Quinton Immelman

	14 August 2015	Golden Lions	44–27	Pumas	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
	19:10	Try: Harold Vorster  26' penalty try  33', 57' Courtnall Skosan  44' Stokkies Hanekom  71' Con: Marnitz Boshoff  27', 34', 45', 58', 72' (5/5) Pen: Marnitz Boshoff  23', 56' (2/2) Drop: Marnitz Boshoff  8' (1/1) Cards: Ruan Combrinck  74' Kwagga Smith  75'	Report[17] Scoreboard[18]	Try: Marnus Schoeman  20' Bernado Botha  42' Stefan Watermeyer  54' Con: JC Roos  21', 43', 55' (3/3) Pen: JC Roos  28', 49' (2/5) Cards: JC Roos 57' to 67'	Attendance: 7,629 Referee: Stuart Berry

	15 August 2015	Western Province	9–3	Free State Cheetahs	Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
	15:00	Pen: Demetri Catrakilis  54', 57', 60' (3/4)	Report[19] Scoreboard[20]	Pen: Fred Zeilinga  18' (1/1) Cards: Rayno Benjamin 34' to 45' Gerhard Olivier 59' to 69' Henco Venter  64'	Attendance: 10,871 Referee: Jaco van Heerden

	15 August 2015	Sharks	33–25	Eastern Province Kings	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	17:05	Try: André Esterhuizen  15' Lionel Cronjé  17' Dan du Preez  55' Paul Jordaan  66' Con: Joe Pietersen  18', 67' (2/4) Pen: Joe Pietersen  7', 25', 62' (3/3) Cards: Philip van der Walt 40' to 50' Odwa Ndungane  73'	Report[21] Scoreboard[22]	Try: George Whitehead  12' Tim Agaba  40' Steven Sykes  44' Enrico Acker  47' Con: Scott van Breda (0/2) George Whitehead  44' (1/2) Pen: Scott van Breda (0/1) George Whitehead  58' (1/1)	Attendance: 7,699 Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Despite scoring the only try of the match, the Eastern Province Kings lost the first match of the weekend 13–15 to a Pumas side for whom fly-half JC Roos slotted five penalties in five attempts. In a battle between two teams without any victories in the competition this far, the Free State Cheetahs ran out winners by beating Griquas 31–9 in Kimberley. The Cheetahs secured a bonus point by scoring four tries, with Fred Zeilinga scoring one of those in a personal contribution of 16 points, while Griquas remain bottom of the log with no log points to their name. The two teams from Gauteng remained the only unbeaten teams after victories in their matches – the Golden Lions scored four tries to beat the Sharks 31–16 in Durban, while the Blue Bulls beat defending champions Western Province 47–29 in the highest-scoring match of the weekend, with Jamba Ulengo scoring two tries and fly-half Tian Schoeman contributing 19 points with the boot, the same points haul as Western Province's Demetri Catrakilis.^[23]

	21 August 2015	Eastern Province Kings	13–15	Pumas	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
	19:00	Try: Lizo Gqoboka  61' Con: Scott van Breda  62' (1/1) Pen: Scott van Breda  10', 48' (2/3) Cards: Steven Sykes 35' to 45'	Report[24] Scoreboard[25]	Pen: JC Roos  3', 12', 56', 65', 76' (5/5)	Attendance: 2,857 Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

	21 August 2015	Griquas	9–31	Free State Cheetahs	Griqua Park, Kimberley
	19:10	Pen: Ntabeni Dukisa  8', 32', 40' (3/3) Cards: Ewald van der Westhuizen 52' to 63'	Report[26] Scoreboard[27]	Try: Rayno Benjamin  16' Fred Zeilinga  47' Sergeal Petersen  50' Gerhard Olivier  53' Con: Fred Zeilinga  17', 48', 51', 54' (4/4) Pen: Fred Zeilinga  28' (1/2) Cards: Maks van Dyk 57' to 68'	Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Pro Legoete

	22 August 2015	Sharks	16–31	Golden Lions	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	17:05	Try: Odwa Ndungane  60' Con: Joe Pietersen  61' (1/1) Pen: Joe Pietersen  29', 35', 57' (3/3)	Report[28] Scoreboard[29]	Try: Howard Mnisi  11' Stokkies Hanekom  66' Courtnall Skosan  73' Anthony Volmink  79' Con: Marnitz Boshoff  12', 67', 74', 80' (4/4) Pen: Ruan Combrinck  49' (1/1)	Attendance: 12,331 Referee: Quinton Immelman

	22 August 2015	Blue Bulls	47–29	Western Province	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
	19:10	Try: Burger Odendaal  50' Jamba Ulengo  55', 61' Travis Ismaiel  58' Warrick Gelant  65' Con: Tian Schoeman  51', 62' (2/5) Pen: Tian Schoeman  9', 12', 19', 25', 39' (5/7) Louis Fouché  77' (1/1)	Report[30] Scoreboard[31]	Try: Seabelo Senatla  28' Dillyn Leyds  45' Con: Demetri Catrakilis  29', 46' (2/2) Pen: Demetri Catrakilis  3', 16', 32', 50', 55' (5/6) Cards: Dillyn Leyds 60' to 70'	Attendance: 27,546 Referee: Craig Joubert

The Golden Lions overtook the Blue Bulls at the top of the log on points difference after both teams extended their winning streaks to four matches. Kwagga Smith scored two tries and Marnitz Boshoff contributed 21 points with the boot as the Golden Lions scored a convincing 41–11 victory over a Pumas side that saw four of their players sin-binned during the course of the match. The Blue Bulls fought back from a 0–11 deficit after twenty minutes to secure a 46–32 victory over Griquas in Kimberley. Fly-half Tian Schoeman kicked 16 points to maintain his spot at the top of the points scoring charts, while winger Jamba Ulengo scored two tries in the match to top the try scoring charts. Dries Swanepoel also scored two tries as the visitors outscored Griquas by six tries to four. The Free State Cheetahs secured their second consecutive win by beating Western Province 28–21 in a match in Bloemfontein to move into the semifinal spots for the first time this season. Western Province remain in third despite suffering their second consecutive defeat. The Sharks kept in touch with the play-off places by securing a narrow 24–20 victory over the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth, fighting back from losing 0–13 shortly before half-time.^[32]

	28 August 2015	Pumas	11–41	Golden Lions	Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela
	19:00	Try: Faf de Klerk  52' Con: JC Roos (0/1) Pen: JC Roos  39', 46' (2/4) Cards: Stefan Watermeyer 6' to 16' Marnus Schoeman 62' to 72' Uzair Cassiem 67' to 77' Khwezi Mona  75'	Report[33] Scoreboard[34]	Try: penalty try  6' Kwagga Smith  57', 77' Jacques van Rooyen  63' Con: Marnitz Boshoff  7', 64', 78' (3/4) Pen: Marnitz Boshoff  21', 31', 42', 51' (4/4) Drop: Marnitz Boshoff  40' (1/1)	Attendance: 4,800 Referee: Pro Legoete

	28 August 2015	Free State Cheetahs	28–21	Western Province	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
	19:10	Try: Niell Jordaan  2' Shaun Venter  15' Rayno Benjamin  25' Con: Fred Zeilinga  16', 26' (2/3) Pen: Fred Zeilinga  5', 20' (2/3) Sias Ebersohn  73' (1/1)	Report[35] Scoreboard[36]	Try: Seabelo Senatla  32' Rynhardt Elstadt  37' Con: Demetri Catrakilis  38' (1/2) Pen: Demetri Catrakilis  13' (1/1) Kurt Coleman  56', 59' (2/2) Drop: Kurt Coleman (0/1)	Attendance: 9,425 Referee: Stuart Berry

	29 August 2015	Griquas	32–46	Blue Bulls	Griqua Park, Kimberley
	15:00	Try: Ntabeni Dukisa  7' Carel Greeff  44' AJ le Roux  56' Riaan Viljoen  72' Con: Ntabeni Dukisa  45' (1/2) Clinton Swart  57', 73' (2/2) Pen: Ntabeni Dukisa  3', 17' (2/3) Cards: Hilton Lobberts  77'	Report[37] Scoreboard[38]	Try: Travis Ismaiel  28' Jamba Ulengo  32', 61' Dries Swanepoel  37', 40' Louis Fouché  79' Con: Tian Schoeman  29', 33', 38', 40', 62' (5/5) Louis Fouché (0/1) Pen: Tian Schoeman  22', 53' (2/3) Cards: Lappies Labuschagné 5' to 15'	Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

	29 August 2015	Eastern Province Kings	20–24	Sharks	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
	17:05	Try: Thembelani Bholi  3' penalty try  75' Con: Scott van Breda  4', 75' (2/2) Pen: Scott van Breda  9', 32' (2/3) Cards: Siyanda Grey 25' to 35'	Report[39] Scoreboard[40]	Try: Joe Pietersen  39' Francois Kleinhans  48' Dan du Preez  56' Con: Joe Pietersen  40', 49', 57' (3/3) Pen: Joe Pietersen  61' (1/2) Cards: S'bura Sithole  75'	Attendance: 5,152 Referee: Jaco van Heerden

The Golden Lions preserved their unbeaten status, winning their fifth consecutive match of the competition by beating the Eastern Province Kings 37–21 in Johannesburg. They scored five tries – which included their fourth penalty try of the season – against the visitors' three, which included a brace from loose-forward Paul Schoeman. The Golden Lions moved one point ahead of the Blue Bulls on the log after the latter failed to get a bonus point in their 24–17 victory over the Free State Cheetahs. Both teams scored two tries, with the kicking by competition top-scorer Tian Schoeman and replacement Louis Fouché proving decisive for the Blue Bulls. The Free State Cheetahs also slipped out of the semifinal positions, with a 27–26 victory for the Sharks over the Pumas ensuring the team from Durban move up to fourth. Winger Wandile Mjekevu contributed two tries for the Sharks and full-back Joe Pietersen contributed 12 points with the boot against a Pumas side that remained in sixth position. In Cape Town, Western Province returned to winning ways after two consecutive defeats by beating Griquas 33–15. They also got a bonus point for scoring four tries in the match through four different try scorers, while the highest points contribution of the round came from Clinton Swart, who kicked five penalties for a Griquas team who remain bottom of the log with a single point to their name.^[41]

	4 September 2015	Blue Bulls	24–17	Free State Cheetahs	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
	19:10	Try: Burger Odendaal  20' Dries Swanepoel  71' Con: Tian Schoeman (0/1) Louis Fouché  72' (1/1) Pen: Tian Schoeman  27', 35' (2/3) Louis Fouché  67', 80' (2/3)	Report[42] Scoreboard[43]	Try: Rayno Benjamin  37' Sias Ebersohn  77' Con: Fred Zeilinga  38' (1/1) Clayton Blommetjies  77' (1/1) Pen: Fred Zeilinga  44' (1/4) Cards: Luan de Bruin 34' to 44'	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

	5 September 2015	Sharks	27–26	Pumas	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	15:00	Try: Wandile Mjekevu  15', 69' Paul Jordaan  45' Con: Joe Pietersen  16', 46', 70' (3/3) Pen: Joe Pietersen  30', 75' (2/3) Cards: Cobus Reinach 26' to 36'	Report[44] Scoreboard[45]	Try: Marius Coetzer  23' JW Bell  55' Con: JC Roos  24' (1/1) Justin van Staden  56' (1/1) Pen: JC Roos  26', 40' (2/2) Justin van Staden  60', 66' (2/4) Cards: Jacques Momberg 43' to 57'	Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

	5 September 2015	Western Province	33–15	Griquas	Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
	17:05	Try: Nic Groom  25' Rynhardt Elstadt  59' Jaco Taute  69' Robert du Preez  74' Con: Kurt Coleman  26', 60' (2/3) Robert du Preez (0/1) Pen: Kurt Coleman  22', 39', 67' (3/4)	Report[46] Scoreboard[47]	Pen: Clinton Swart  13', 29', 34', 43', 57' (5/6) Cards: Carel Greeff 23' to 34' Jaco Nepgen 63' to 73'	Referee: Jaco van Heerden

	5 September 2015	Golden Lions	37–21	Eastern Province Kings	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
	19:10	Try: penalty try  4' Kwagga Smith  11' Stokkies Hanekom  13' Stephan de Wit  30' Ruan Combrinck  83' Con: Jaco van der Walt  5', 13' (2/4) Marnitz Boshoff  84' (1/1) Pen: Jaco van der Walt  40' (1/1) Marnitz Boshoff  70' (1/1) Drop: Marnitz Boshoff (0/1)	Report[48] Scoreboard[49]	Try: Siyanda Grey  15' Paul Schoeman  23', 55' Con: Karlo Aspeling  16', 25', 56' (3/3) Cards: Eital Bredenkamp  76' Hansie Graaff  83'	Referee: Stuart Berry

The Golden Lions beat their trans-Jukskei rivals the Blue Bulls 36–28 in the top-of-the-table match between two previously unbeaten teams. The Blue Bulls outscored the Golden Lions by four tries to three (with Blue Bulls winger Jamba Ulengo getting two tries), but it was not enough as 21 points from the boot of Marnitz Boshoff decided the match in the favour of the team from Johannesburg. This allowed Western Province to close the gap to the Blue Bulls after they beat the Sharks 37–27 in Durban and securing a bonus point for their four tries. At the bottom of the log, both the Eastern Province Kings and Griquas picked up their first wins of the season. The Eastern Province Kings beat the Free State Cheetahs 32–24 in Port Elizabeth despite playing the majority of the second half with just fourteen players following JP du Plessis' sending off for a punch. The Free State Cheetahs scored four tries, but Scott van Breda kicked 22 points to secure the victory for the home side. In Kimberley, two tries from Carel Greeff helped Griquas to a 32–15 win over the Pumas. Despite scoring four tries in the match, the result left Griquas bottom of the log, one point behind the Eastern Province Kings.^[50]

	11 September 2015	Eastern Province Kings	32–24	Free State Cheetahs	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
	19:10	Try: Luther Obi  30' Siyanda Grey  55' Con: Scott van Breda  31', 56' (2/2) Pen: Scott van Breda  8', 14', 40', 61', 64', 70' (6/6) Cards: JP du Plessis  46'	Report[51] Scoreboard[52]	Try: Gerhard Olivier  17' Shaun Venter  21' Clayton Blommetjies  34' Sergeal Petersen  78' Con: Fred Zeilinga  18', 22' (2/4)	Referee: Quinton Immelman

	12 September 2015	Griquas	32–15	Pumas	Griqua Park, Kimberley
	15:00	Try: Carel Greeff  9', 21' Jacquin Jansen  46' Jono Janse van Rensburg  79' Con: Clinton Swart  10', 47' (2/3) Gouws Prinsloo  80' (1/1) Pen: Clinton Swart  7', 42' (2/3)	Report[53] Scoreboard[54]	Try: Marnus Schoeman  68' Roscko Speckman  70' Con: Justin van Staden  68' (1/2) Pen: Justin van Staden  4' (1/2) Cards: Faf de Klerk 30' to 40'	Referee: Jaco van Heerden

	12 September 2015	Sharks	27–37	Western Province	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	17:05	Try: André Esterhuizen  35' Odwa Ndungane  60' Con: Joe Pietersen  61' (1/2) Pen: Joe Pietersen  4', 10', 27', 40', 52' (5/6)	Report[55] Scoreboard[56]	Try: Seabelo Senatla  6' Rynhardt Elstadt  42' Dillyn Leyds  47' Bongi Mbonambi  53' Con: Robert du Preez  7', 43', 48', 54' (4/4) Pen: Robert du Preez  13', 58' (2/2) Demetri Catrakilis  79' (1/1)	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

	12 September 2015	Blue Bulls	28–36	Golden Lions	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
	19:10	Try: Jamba Ulengo  40', 69' Arno Botha  55' Deon Stegmann  60' Con: Tian Schoeman  40', 56', 61', 70' (4/4)	Report[57] Scoreboard[58]	Try: Courtnall Skosan  3' Franco Mostert  23' Ruan Combrinck  34' Con: Marnitz Boshoff  4', 24', 35' (3/3) Pen: Marnitz Boshoff  14', 27', 52', 78' (4/4) Drop: Marnitz Boshoff  19' (1/1)	Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

The Golden Lions beat the Sharks 26–18 in their clash in Johannesburg to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches and also ensuring a semi-final slot. Both sides scored two tries as 16 points from the boot of Marnitz Boshoff proved decisive for the home side. The Free State Cheetahs got the biggest win of the weekend, beating their Super Rugby franchise partners Griquas 44–24 in Bloemfontein. The Free State Cheetahs were the only side to secure a four-try bonus point during the round, with Sergeal Petersen scoring two of their five tries as they leap-frogged the Sharks into fourth spot on the log, while Ruhan Nel got a brace for the visitors. Western Province closed the gap to the Blue Bulls in second place, avenging their Round Three defeat in a 29–14 victory in Cape Town. The lowest-scoring match of the weekend saw the Pumas scoring two tries in a 20–9 victory over the Eastern Province Kings in Nelspruit.^[59]

	18 September 2015	Pumas	20–9	Eastern Province Kings	Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela
	17:00	Try: Jason Fraser  14' Marnus Schoeman  27' Con: Justin van Staden  15', 28' (2/2) Pen: Justin van Staden  19', 43' (2/3)	Report[60] Scoreboard[61]	Pen: Scott van Breda  8', 12', 30' (3/4) Cards: Thembelani Bholi 19' to 30'	Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

	18 September 2015	Western Province	29–14	Blue Bulls	Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
	19:00	Try: Dillyn Leyds  3' Huw Jones  9' Jano Vermaak  77' Con: Robert du Preez  5' (1/3) Pen: Robert du Preez  32', 46', 59', 65' (4/5)	Report[62] Scoreboard[63]	Try: Travis Ismaiel  72' Con: Tian Schoeman (0/1) Pen: Louis Fouché  12', 30', 34' (3/4) Tian Schoeman (0/1)	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

	19 September 2015	Golden Lions	26–18	Sharks	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
	14:30	Try: Lourens Erasmus  60' Courtnall Skosan  65' Con: Marnitz Boshoff  61', 65' (2/2) Pen: Marnitz Boshoff  28', 38', 43', 52' (4/5) Drop: Marnitz Boshoff (0/2)	Report[64] Scoreboard[65]	Try: Joe Pietersen  76' Francois Kleinhans  78' Con: Joe Pietersen  79' (1/2) Pen: Joe Pietersen  33', 55' (2/3)	Referee: Jaco van Heerden

	19 September 2015	Free State Cheetahs	44–24	Griquas	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
	15:00	Try: Raymond Rhule  4' Sergeal Petersen  15', 24' Shaun Venter  51' Zee Mkhabela  76' Con: Fred Zeilinga  5', 16', 25', 52', 77' (5/5) Pen: Fred Zeilinga  40', 48', 69' (3/3)	Report[66] Scoreboard[67]	Try: Ruhan Nel  8', 57' Tian Meyer  65' Con: Clinton Swart  9', 58', 66' (3/3) Pen: Clinton Swart  36' (1/1)	Attendance: 3,580 Referee: AJ Jacobs

The Golden Lions won their eighth consecutive match in the competition, scoring ten tries as they beat the Free State Cheetahs 73–31 in Bloemfontein. Courtnall Skosan and Jaco Kriel scored two tries each and fly-half Marnitz Boshoff had a faultless kicking performance, converting all ten tries after opening the scoring with his only penalty attempt of the match. A hat-trick by Cheetahs flanker Vince Jobo helped his side get a four-try bonus point to remain in fourth spot on the log, in the final semi-final position. The Blue Bulls remained in second spot on the log as they beat the Sharks 17–13 in Durban, but Western Province drew level on points with the Blue Bulls as both sides secured a semi-final berth. Western Province beat the Pumas 50–19 in Cape Town, with fly-half Robert du Preez scoring two tries and contributing a further 11 points with the boot for Western Province, while the Pumas' Roscko Speckman also scored a brace for his side. In the bottom-of-the-log clash, Eastern Province Kings captain Tim Whitehead scored a try after the hooter – his second of the match – to help his side to a 40–37 victory over Griquas. EP Kings flanker Paul Schoeman also got two tries in the match, as did Griquas winger Danie Dames.^[68]

	25 September 2015	Sharks	13–17	Blue Bulls	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	20:00	Try: Garth April  58' Con: Joe Pietersen  59' (1/1) Pen: Joe Pietersen  18', 23' (2/3) Cards: Mzamo Majola  82'	Report[69] Scoreboard[70]	Try: Jamba Ulengo  39' Deon Stegmann  56' Con: Tian Schoeman  40', 56' (2/2) Pen: Tian Schoeman  31' (1/2)	Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

	26 September 2015	Free State Cheetahs	31–73	Golden Lions	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
	13:15	Try: Sergeal Petersen  12' Vince Jobo  32', 44', 50' Francois Venter  74' Con: Sias Ebersohn  45', 51' (2/4) Fred Zeilinga  75' (1/1)	Report[71] Scoreboard[72]	Try: Courtnall Skosan  8', 15' Stephan de Wit  19' Jaco Kriel  28', 64' Howard Mnisi  41' Warren Whiteley  57' Jaco van der Walt  71' Kwagga Smith  79' Anthony Volmink  81' Con: Marnitz Boshoff  9', 16', 20', 29', 42', 58', 65', 72', 79', 82' (10/10) Pen: Marnitz Boshoff  5' (1/1) Cards: Warren Whiteley 40' to 51'	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

	26 September 2015	Western Province	50–19	Pumas	Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
	15:00	Try: Nizaam Carr  9' Jano Vermaak  33' Kobus van Wyk  42' Robert du Preez  50', 60' Jurie van Vuuren  66' Alistair Vermaak  79' Con: Robert du Preez  34', 43', 51', 61' (4/5) Demetri Catrakilis  67', 80' (2/2) Pen: Robert du Preez  39' (1/1) Cards: Johnny Kôtze 23' to 34'	Report[73] Scoreboard[74]	Try: Roscko Speckman  12', 35' Vincent Koch  24' Con: Justin van Staden  25', 36' (2/3) Pen: Justin van Staden (0/1)	Referee: Rodney Boneparte

	26 September 2015	Eastern Province Kings	40–37	Griquas	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
	15:30	Try: Luther Obi  34' Paul Schoeman  39', 50' Tim Whitehead  57', 80' Con: Scott van Breda  40', 58', 81' (3/5) Pen: Scott van Breda  2', 22', 27' (3/3)	Report[75] Scoreboard[76]	Try: Danie Dames  4', 37' Clinton Swart  24' Carel Greeff  46' AJ le Roux  68' Con: Clinton Swart  25', 38', 47' (3/5) Pen: Clinton Swart  7', 32' (2/3)	Referee: Quinton Immelman

The Golden Lions secured top spot on the log (and home advantage in their semi-final match) after a 62–32 victory over third-placed Western Province. The Golden Lions scored nine tries from nine different try scorers in their victory, while Western Province secured a bonus point for scoring four tries, with Sikhumbuzo Notshe scoring two of those. The Blue Bulls overturned a 17–20 half time deficit to win their match against the Eastern Province Kings 48–27. Francois Hougaard and Lappies Labuschagné each scored two of the Blue Bulls' seven tries as they consolidated second spot on the log. The results in the other two matches ensured that the Round Ten match between the Free State Cheetahs and Sharks would determine the final semi-finalist; the Free State Cheetahs drew 37-all with the Pumas in Nelspruit, outscoring the hosts five tries to four, while the Sharks scored six tries in Kimberley in their 45–20 rout of Griquas, for whom Ruhan Nel scored two tries.^[77]

	2 October 2015	Golden Lions	62–32	Western Province	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
	18:00	Try: Lourens Erasmus  12' Malcolm Marx  14' Marnitz Boshoff  22' Franco Mostert  30' Howard Mnisi  37' Andries Coetzee  44' Anthony Volmink  51' Kwagga Smith  67' Stokkies Hanekom  77' Con: Marnitz Boshoff  12', 15', 23', 38', 52' (5/7) Jaco van der Walt  68', 78' (2/2) Pen: Marnitz Boshoff  4' (1/1)	Report[78] Scoreboard[79]	Try: Sikhumbuzo Notshe  34', 74' Johnny Kôtze  39' Nic Groom  80' Con: Robert du Preez  35', 40', 81' (3/4) Pen: Robert du Preez  6', 11' (2/2)	Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

	2 October 2015	Blue Bulls	48–27	Eastern Province Kings	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
	19:10	Try: Lappies Labuschagné  26', 31' Dries Swanepoel  49' Francois Hougaard  55', 65' Ruan Steenkamp  70' Jacques du Plessis  78' Con: Tian Schoeman  27', 32', 50', 56' (4/5) Louis Fouché  79' (1/2) Pen: Tian Schoeman  11' (1/1) Cards: Ruan Steenkamp  73'	Report[80] Scoreboard[81]	Try: Tim Whitehead  20' Elgar Watts  38' JP du Plessis  74' Con: Scott van Breda  21', 39', 75' (3/3) Pen: Scott van Breda  7', 35' (2/2) Cards: Edgar Marutlulle 48' to 58' Schalk Ferreira  69'	Referee: Pro Legoete

	3 October 2015	Pumas	37–37	Free State Cheetahs	Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela
	13:15	Try: Jaco Bouwer  21' De-Jay Terblanche  57' Marnus Schoeman  68' Rudi Mathee  79' Con: Justin van Staden  22', 58', 70', 80' (4/4) Pen: Justin van Staden  7', 18', 38' (3/3)	Report[82] Scoreboard[83]	Try: Sergeal Petersen  31' Oupa Mohojé  33' Francois Venter  40' De Wet Kruger  51' Freddy Ngoza  72' Con: Sias Ebersohn  32', 34', 40' (3/4) Niel Marais (0/1) Pen: Sias Ebersohn  15' (1/1) Niel Marais  75' (1/1) Cards: Rayno Benjamin 21' to 31'  79'	Referee: Jaco van Heerden

	3 October 2015	Griquas	20–45	Sharks	Griqua Park, Kimberley
	15:00	Try: Ruhan Nel  5', 80' Sandile Ngcobo  70' Con: Clinton Swart  6' (1/3) Pen: Clinton Swart  26' (1/1)	Report[84] Scoreboard[85]	Try: Cobus Reinach  19' Paul Jordaan  23' Francois Kleinhans  33' André Esterhuizen  36' Michael Claassens  55' S'bura Sithole  66' Con: Joe Pietersen  20', 24', 34', 37', 56', 67' (6/6) Pen: Joe Pietersen  18' (1/2) Cards: Paul Jordaan 63' to 72'	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

With three of the semifinalists already confirmed, the winner of the match between the Free State Cheetahs and the Sharks would clinch the final semi-final berth. The Free State Cheetahs led 17–13 at half-time, but the Sharks fought back and had a 34–20 lead by the 75th minute. However, the Free State Cheetahs responded with two late tries of their own, both of which were converted by Niel Marais – the second of those after the final hooter went – to earn themselves a 34-all draw, which was enough to see them remain in fourth spot on the log, with the Sharks remaining in fifth. The Golden Lions – already assured of top spot on the log – beat the bottom side Griquas 29–19 in Johannesburg to complete the regular season with 10 wins out of 10. Jacques Nel scored two tries for the home side as the result guaranteed Griquas would finish bottom. Home advantage in the other semi-final was still up for grabs and the Blue Bulls secured it, with two tries from both Deon Stegmann and Jamba Ulengo helping them to a closely fought 25–24 win over the Pumas in Nelspruit. The Blue Bulls' semi-final opponents, Western Province got a convincing 45–14 victory over the Eastern Province Kings in Cape Town with Dillyn Leyds scoring two of their six tries.^[86]

	9 October 2015	Pumas	24–25	Blue Bulls	Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela
	18:00	Try: Marnus Schoeman  4' Roscko Speckman  62' Rudi Mathee  81' Con: Justin van Staden  4', 63' (2/2) Hennie Skorbinski  82' (1/1) Pen: Justin van Staden  47' (1/3)	Report[87] Scoreboard[88]	Try: Deon Stegmann  13', 51' Jamba Ulengo  15', 58' Con: Tian Schoeman  60' (1/4) Pen: Tian Schoeman  40' (1/1) Cards: Deon Stegmann 33' to 43'	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

	9 October 2015	Western Province	45–14	Eastern Province Kings	Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
	18:00	Try: Nizaam Carr  2' Juan de Jongh  30' Godlen Masimla  34' Dillyn Leyds  42', 80' Justin Benn  57' Con: Robert du Preez  3', 31', 35', 43' (4/4) Kurt Coleman  58', 81' (2/2) Pen: Robert du Preez  13' (1/1)	Report[89] Scoreboard[90]	Try: Enrico Acker  36' Con: Scott van Breda (0/1) Pen: Scott van Breda  8', 17', 28' (3/3)	Referee: Pro Legoete

	10 October 2015	Free State Cheetahs	34–34	Sharks	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
	14:00	Try: Rayno Benjamin  14', 76' Boom Prinsloo  25' Gerhard Olivier  79' Con: Sias Ebersohn  14', 26' (2/2) Niel Marais  76', 80' (2/2) Pen: Sias Ebersohn  40', 52' (2/7) Cards: Luan de Bruin 61' to 73'	Report[91] Scoreboard[92]	Try: Etienne Oosthuizen  18' Cobus Reinach  36' Paul Jordaan  43' Garth April  64' Con: Joe Pietersen  65' (1/3) Cobus Reinach (0/1) Pen: Joe Pietersen  2', 58', 62', 70' (4/5)	Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

	10 October 2015	Golden Lions	29–19	Griquas	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
	16:05	Try: Sampie Mastriet  12' Kwagga Smith  33' Jacques Nel  64', 80' Con: Jaco van der Walt  13', 34', 81' (3/4) Pen: Jaco van der Walt  62' (1/2)	Report[93] Scoreboard[94]	Try: Carel Greeff  9' Tian Meyer  40' Dylon Frylinck  78' Con: Gouws Prinsloo  10', 40' (2/3) Cards: RJ Liebenberg 53' to 63'	Referee: AJ Jacobs

Defending champions Western Province ensured they would play in their fourth consecutive Currie Cup final by beating the Blue Bulls 23–18 in Pretoria. There were no tries scored in the first half, with the Blue Bulls' Tian Schoeman and Western Province's Robert du Preez each kicking three penalties as the teams went into the half-time break at 9-all. Schoeman scored a further three penalties in the second half, but tries from Cheslin Kolbe and Jano Vermaak for the visitors – both converted by Du Preez – secured a spot in the final for the team from Cape Town. The other semi-final was a high-scoring affair, with the Golden Lions beating the Free State Cheetahs 43–33 in Johannesburg. Golden Lions captain Jaco Kriel scored two tries, lock Lourens Erasmus scored one and a 65th minute penalty try completed the Golden Lions' try-scoring, while fly-half Marnitz Boshoff successfully converted the four tries and also kicked all five of his penalty attempts to finish the match with a personal points tally of 23 points. The Free State Cheetahs actually scored one try more than the Golden Lions with Francois Venter, Boom Prinsloo, Gerhard Olivier, Niel Marais and Sias Ebersohn each getting a try, but kicked just 11 points through Marais as the visitors fell just short. The result set up a repeat of the 2014 Currie Cup final between Western Province and Golden Lions, this time to be played at the latter's home ground in Johannesburg.^[95]

	16 October 2015	Blue Bulls	18–23	Western Province	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
	19:00	Pen: Tian Schoeman  2', 13', 26', 49', 57', 76' (6/8) Cards: Pierre Schoeman 23' to 35'	Report[96] Scoreboard[97]	Try: Cheslin Kolbe  52' Jano Vermaak  71' Con: Robert du Preez  53' (1/1) Kurt Coleman  72' (1/1) Pen: Robert du Preez  15', 24', 30' (3/4) Drop: Cheslin Kolbe (0/1)	Attendance: 19,428 Referee: Pro Legoete

	17 October 2015	Golden Lions	43–33	Free State Cheetahs	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
	13:45	Try: Jaco Kriel  16', 69' Lourens Erasmus  48' penalty try  65' Con: Marnitz Boshoff  17', 49', 66', 71' (4/4) Pen: Marnitz Boshoff  26', 35', 59', 75', 79' (5/5)	Report[98] Scoreboard[99]	Try: Francois Venter  4' Boom Prinsloo  29' Gerhard Olivier  51' Niel Marais  56' Sias Ebersohn  68' Con: Niel Marais  57' (1/4) Sias Ebersohn (0/1) Pen: Niel Marais  20', 23' (2/2) Cards: Boom Prinsloo 65' to 75' Maks van Dyk  72'	Referee: Jaco van Heerden

The Golden Lions secured their eleventh Currie Cup title by beating Western Province 32–24 in Johannesburg. They scored two tries in the first quarter of the match through Warren Whiteley and Ross Cronjé – both converted by Marnitz Boshoff to lead 14–0. A Robert du Preez penalty put Western Province on the scoreboard in the 27th minute, but the Golden Lions responded minutes later when Ross Cronjé scored his second try of the match to lead 22–3. Western Province scored a try of their own at the end of the first half, with Robert du Preez scoring and converting the try for a half-time score of 22–10 to the hosts. Just two minutes after the restart, a further try Golden Lions centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg, again converted by Boshoff, stretched their lead to 29–10. Western Province reduced the deficit to eight points by the 63rd minute after scoring tries through Nizaam Carr and Sikhumbuzo Notshe – converted by Du Preez and Kurt Coleman respectively – on either side of a Boshoff penalty for the Golden Lions, but neither team could get on the scoreboard after that and the Golden Lions won the match 32–24 to go through the entire season unbeaten to win their first title since 2011.^[100]

	24 October 2015	Golden Lions	32–24	Western Province	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
	13:45	Try: Warren Whiteley  14' Ross Cronjé  20', 34' Rohan Janse van Rensburg  42' Con: Marnitz Boshoff  15', 21', 43' (3/4) Pen: Marnitz Boshoff  38', 57' (2/4) Drop: Marnitz Boshoff (0/1)	Report[100] Scoreboard[101]	Try: Robert du Preez  40' Nizaam Carr  46' Sikhumbuzo Notshe  62' Con: Robert du Preez  40', 47' (2/2) Kurt Coleman  63' (1/1) Pen: Robert du Preez  27' (1/3) Cards: Chris van Zyl  79'	Attendance: 44,183 Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

The honour roll for the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division was:

The following table contain points which were scored in the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division:^[102]

The player appearance record in the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division is as follows:

Blue Bulls
Name	FSC	GRQ	WPr	GRQ	FSC	LIO	WPr	SHA	EPK	PMA	SF	F		App	Try	Kck	Pts
Dean Greyling	1	1	1	1		1						—		5	0	0	0
Jaco Visagie	2	2	16		16	16	16	16				—		7	0	0	0
Werner Kruger	3	3	3	3		17	17	17	17	17	17	—		10	0	0	0
Jacques du Plessis	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	7		4	—		10	1	0	5
Marvin Orie	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	—		11	0	0	0
Deon Stegmann	6	6				19	6	6		6	6	—		7	5	0	25
Lappies Labuschagné (c)	7	7	7	6	7	6	8	7	6	7	7	—		11	2	0	10
Hanro Liebenberg	8	8	8									—		3	0	0	0
Francois Hougaard	9	9	9		9	9	9	9	9	9	9	—		10	5	0	25
Tian Schoeman	10	10	10	10	10	10	21	10	10	10	10	—		11	1	128	133
Jamba Ulengo	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	—		11	11	0	55
Burger Odendaal	12	12	12	12	12	22	12	12	12	12	12	—		11	2	0	10
William Small-Smith	13	13							22	22	22	—		5	0	0	0
Travis Ismaiel	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	—		11	4	0	20
Warrick Gelant	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	—		11	2	0	10
Bandise Maku	16	16	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	—		11	0	0	0
Nqoba Mxoli	17											—		1	0	0	0
RG Snyman	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	4	4	18	—		10	0	0	0
Roelof Smit	19	19	6		6	7	7					—		6	0	0	0
Ivan van Zyl	20	20	20	9	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	—		10	0	0	0
Louis Fouché	21	21	21	21	21	21	10	21	21	21	21	—		8	1	27	32
Dries Swanepoel	22	22	13	13	13	13	13	22	13	13	13	—		11	4	0	20
Dayan van der Westhuizen		17	17	17	17							—		4	1	0	5
Jannes Kirsten			19	7	19							—		3	0	0	0
Dan Kriel			22	22								—		2	0	0	0
Arno Botha				8	8	8	19	8	8	8	8	—		8	1	0	5
Corniel Els				16					16	16	16	—		4	0	0	0
Nick de Jager				19								—		1	0	0	0
André Warner				20								—		1	0	0	0
Pierre Schoeman					1		1	1	1	1	1	—		6	0	0	0
Marcel van der Merwe					3	3	3	3	3	3	3	—		7	0	0	0
Jan Serfontein					22	12	22	13				—		4	0	0	0
Ruan Steenkamp								19	19	19		—		3	1	0	5
Clyde Davids									18			—		1	0	0	0
Jason Jenkins										18	19	—		2	0	0	0
Total														11	41	155	360
Andrew Beerwinkel, Riaan Britz, Tinus de Beer, Carlo Engelbrecht, Justin Forwood, Neethling Fouché, Nico Janse van Rensburg, Jesse Kriel, Kefentse Mahlo, Duncan Matthews, Morné Mellett, Ryan Nell, Trevor Nyakane, Marais Schmidt, Jade Stighling, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe, Callie Visagie, Dennis Visser and Jurgen Visser were named in the Currie Cup Premier Division squad, but not included in a matchday squad.