The 2001 Vodacom Cup was the 4th edition of this annual domestic cup competition. The Vodacom Cup is played between provincial rugby union teams in South Africa from the Currie Cup Premier and First Divisions, as well as an invitational team, the from Namibia.

Competition There were 15 teams participating in the 2001 Vodacom Cup. These teams were divided into two sections of equal strength; Section X with eight teams and Section Y with seven teams. Teams would play all the other teams in their section once over the course of the season, either at home or away.

Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that score four or more tries in a game, as well as to teams losing a match by seven points or less. Teams were ranked by points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).

The top four teams in each section qualified for the Vodacom Top Eight competition, while the bottom four teams in Section X and the bottom three teams in Section Y qualified for the Vodacom Shield competition. For both the Vodacom Top Eight and Vodacom Shield competitions, all points already scored against teams that progressed to the same competition were carried forward. Teams then played once against the teams that qualified from the other section, with the top four teams in each competition advancing to the quarter-finals.

In the quarter-finals, the teams that finished first in each competition had home advantage against the teams that finished fourth and the teams that finished second in each competition had home advantage against the teams that finished third. 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 for each competition.

Teams

Changes from 2000 The Northern and Southern Sections were scrapped and replaced with two sections of equal strength; Sections X and Y.

Team Listing The following teams took part in the 2001 Vodacom Cup competition:

Section XTeamStadium/s

Section YTeamStadium/s

Pool Phases

Tables

Section X 2001 Vodacom Cup Section X TableTeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTries ForTries AgainstTry BonusLosing BonusPoints1 7 6 0 1 216 160 +56 26 19 3 0 272 7 5 0 2 313 165 +148 46 21 6 0 263 7 5 0 2 270 185 +85 34 17 4 0 264 7 4 0 3 242 172 +70 30 20 4 1 215 7 4 0 3 255 190 +65 32 23 2 1 196 7 3 0 4 169 152 +17 17 17 3 2 177 7 1 0 6 219 232 -13 27 28 2 3 98 7 0 0 7 95 523 -428 13 80 0 0 0 The top 4 teams qualified for the Vodacom Top Eight.The bottom 4 teams qualified for the Vodacom Shield.Points breakdown:*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

Section Y 2001 Vodacom Cup Section Y TableTeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTries ForTries AgainstTry BonusLosing BonusPoints1 6 5 0 1 242 140 +102 38 13 6 1 272 6 3 1 2 205 185 +20 20 20 3 2 193 6 4 0 2 170 161 +9 18 16 2 0 184 6 3 0 3 195 194 +1 25 25 4 0 165 6 2 0 4 150 167 -17 14 17 1 2 116 6 2 1 3 120 185 -65 10 21 0 1 117 6 1 0 5 153 203 -50 16 29 2 2 8 The top 4 teams qualified for the Vodacom Top Eight.The bottom 3 teams qualified for the Vodacom Shield.Points breakdown:*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

Results

Section X

Round one

Round two

Round three

Round four

Round Five

Round Six

Round Seven

Section Y

Round one

Round two

Round three

Round four

Round Five

Round Six

Round Seven

Vodacom Top Eight

Table 2001 Vodacom Top Eight TableTeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTries ForTries AgainstTry BonusLosing BonusPoints1 4 4 0 0 150 117 +33 41 16 3 0 342 4 3 0 1 194 109 +85 41 12 4 1 233 4 3 0 1 131 100 +31 27 12 1 0 214 4 1 0 3 135 112 +23 27 14 2 3 205 4 0 1 3 91 111 -20 18 15 1 2 146 4 2 1 1 123 129 -6 17 15 3 0 147 4 1 0 3 79 169 -90 16 24 0 1 148 4 1 0 3 95 151 -56 22 20 2 1 12 The top 4 teams qualified for the Vodacom Top Eight semi-finals.Points breakdown:All results from the pool phases were brought forward.*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

Results

Round one

Round two

Round three

Round four

Semi-finals

Final

Winners 2001 Vodacom Top EightCHAMPIONS1st title

Vodacom Shield The withdrew from the Vodacom Shield due to financial constraints.

Table 2001 Vodacom Shield TableTeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTries ForTries AgainstTry BonusLosing BonusPoints1 3 2 1 0 105 89 +15 15 12 0 0 162 3 2 0 1 80 86 -6 12 10 0 0 163 3 2 0 1 110 91 +20 15 10 1 1 154 3 0 1 2 63 85 +22 16 8 1 1 135 3 1 0 2 97 105 -8 14 11 2 1 86 3 1 0 2 107 106 +1 15 9 1 1 7 The top 4 teams qualified for the Vodacom Shield semi-finals.Points breakdown:All results from the pool phases were brought forward.*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

Results

Round one

Round two

Round three

Semi-finals

Final

Winners 2001 Vodacom ShieldCHAMPIONS

References