 The Crusaders are now playing their eighth final - out of eleven. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, are playing their first.
We give some details of Super rugby finals with a little bit about their forerunners.
n the beginning there were six. In 1986 New Zealand started the AGC South Pacific Championship. It started quietly, as most things do in the rugby's conservative world. The competition was dominated by Auckland. The winners were:
1986: Auckland
1987: Auckland and Canterbury
1988: Auckland
1989: Auckland
1990: Auckland
1991: No competition
1992: Queensland
South Africa was back in international rugby in 1992 and the Super 6 became the Super 10 in 1993. The ten teams in 1993 were Western Samoa, Queensland, Otago, Auckland and Natal in Pool A, and Waikato, North Harbour, Transvaal, Northern Transvaal and New South Wales in Pool B. In the final Transvaal beat Auckland 20-17 at Ellis Park.
Apart from Western Samoa the teams taking part were provincial teams, determined in the case of New Zealand and South Africa by standings in the provincial championship
In 1994 Eastern Province replaced Northern Transvaal. This time Queensland won, beating Natal in the final. Natal got there with four free points when New South Wales decided Durban was too dangerous a place and refused to travel there, shades of Wales and Scotland in 1973 when they refused to go to Ireland.
Queensland won again in 1995 when they thrashed Transvaal.
The winners of the Super 10 were:
1993: Transvaal
1994: Queensland
1995: Queensland
The Super 12 was more than a change in numbers. Now there was a body, called SANZAR, made up of the three unions South Africa, New Zealand and Australia and an R for rugby. It would become more and more powerful in rugby, even though it had no authority over its constituent bodies. It organised the Super 12 - five teams from New Zealand, four from South Africa and three from Australia. And it was lucrative and professional. The 1996 Super 12 was rugby's first professional competition.
New Zealand quickly went for regional teams and Australia's third province, Canberra, became an interprovincial body. Eventually South Africa also went in for regional teams, but the competition remained dominated by New Zealand teams. There were no pools in this system which meant a great deal of travelling for the teams. This was especially hard on South African teams who set off for a six-week tour of Australia and New Zealand. :
The competition received enormous coverage and was accompanied by much glitter and razzmatazz.
The teams in the first Super 12 were Natal, Western Province, Waikato, Canterbury, Otago, Queensland, ACT, Transvaal, Wellington, Northern Transvaal, New South Wales and Auckland.
Later the teams would acquire different names and their gear changed regularly, a long was from rugby's normal conservatism. In fact the Super 12 was not for the conservative.
In 1999 the teams in the Super 12 were the Sharks, Northern Bulls, Stormers, Cats, Auckland Blues, Wellington Hurricanes, Canterbury Crusaders, Otago Highlanders, ACT Brumbies, Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs.
The teams have since become single-named.
The winners of the Super 12 have been:
1996: Auckland Blues
1997: Auckland Blues
1998: Canterbury Crusaders
1999: Canterbury Crusaders
2000: Crusaders
2001: Brumbies
2002: Crusaders
2003: Blues
2004: Brumbies
2005: Crusaders
In 2006 the Super 12 grew into the Super 14 with an additional team from Australia - the Western Force - and an additional team from South Africa - the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs who split from their uncomfortable alliance with the Cats, based in Johannesburg,
The Super 12 Finals:
1996: Auckland vs Natal
Auckland 45
Natal 21
Eden Park
25 May 1996
Referee: Wayne Erickson (Australia)
Natal had a great win over Queensland in Brisbane and flew over to Auckland with high hopes. Jonah Lomu soon brought them bumping down to earth, and in no time Auckland were ahead 20-3. Back came Natal to 20-16 but Auckland then made the game safe.
Scorers:
For Auckland:
Tries: Andrew Blowers 2, Jonah Lomu, Carlos Spencer, Eroni Clarke, Carl Riechelmann
Cons: Adrian Cashmore 3
Pens: Adrian Cashmore 3
For Natal:
Tries: André Joubert, James Small
Con: Henry Honiball
Pens: Henry Honiball 3
Teams:
Auckland: Adrian Cashmore, Jonah Lomu, Johnny Ngauamo, Eroni Clarke, Joeli Vidiri, Carlos Spencer, Ofisa Tonu'u, Zinzan Brooke (captain), Michael Jones, Andrew Blowers, Charles Reichelmann, Robin Brooke, Craig Dowd, Sean Fitzpatrick, Olo Brown.
Natal: Andre Joubert, James Small, Jeremy Thomson, Dick Muir, Cabous van der Westhuizen, Henry Honiball, Kevin Putt, Gary Teichmann (captain),Wayne Fyvie, Wickus van Heerden, Stephen Atherton, Mark Andrews, Ollie le Roux, John Allan, Adrian Garvey
1997: Auckland Blues vs ACT Brumbies
Auckland Blues 23
ACT Brumbies 7
Eden Park
31 May 1997
Referee: Tappe Henning (South Africa)
The rains came down and the Brumbies forwards stood up to the powerful Auckland pack which had only one player who was not an All Black. The scoreline looks comfortable for Auckland, the favourites, who deserved to win, but in the end it was only by two tries to one and Michael Jones's had intercepted to score one of them.
Scorers:
For Auckland Blues:
Tries: Craig Dowd, Michael Jones
Cons: Adrian Cashmore 2
Pens: Adrian Cashmore 3
For ACT:
Try: Joe Roff
Con: Joe Roff
Teams:
Auckland Blues: Adrian Cashmore, Brian Lima, Eroni Clarke, Lee Stensness, Joeli Vidiri, Carlos Spencer, Ofisa Tonu'u, Zinzan Brooke (captain), Michael Jones, Mark Carter, Robin Brooke, Leo Lafaiali'i, Craig Dowd, Sean Fitzpatrick, Olo Brown.
ACT Brumbies: Stephen Larkham, Mitch Hardy, James Holbeck, Pat Howard, Joe Roff, David Knox, George Gregan, Troy Coker, Brett Robinson (captain), Owen Finegan, John Langford, David Giffin, Patricio Noriega, Marco Caputo, Ewen McKenzie .
1998: Auckland Blues vs Canterbury Crusaders
Canterbury Crusaders 20
Auckland Blues 13
Eden Park
30 May 1998
Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
The rise of the Crusaders was remarkable. After four matches Canterbury were last on the table. They scraped past Natal at home (four tries for, five against). Auckland had ended the pre-knock-out rounds top and so had a home final.
At half-time the score was 3-0 to Canterbury. In the second half the Blues got ahead 10-3, but Canterbury came back to level the scores. Five minutes from the end the score was 3-all. Andrew Mehrtens chipped, the ball eluded two Auckland defenders and James Kerr flopped onto it for a strange try.
Scorers:
For Canterbury Crusaders:
Tries: Norma Maxwell, James Kerr
Cons: Andrew Mehrtens 2
Pens: Andrew Mehrtens 2
For Auckland Blues:
Try by James Christian
Con: Adrian Cashmore
Pen: Adrian Cashmore
Drop: Adrian Cashmore
Teams:
Canterbury Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, James Kerr, Daryl Gibson, Caleb Ralph, Afato So'oalo, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Steve Surridge, Reuben Thorne, Scott Robertson, Norm Maxwell, Todd Blackadder (captain), Greg Somerville, Mark Hammett, Greg Feek
Auckland Blues: Doug Howlett, Marc Ellis, Rua Tipoki, Craig Innes, Joeli Vidiri, Carlos Spencer, Mark Robinson, Xavier Rush, Mark Carter, Justin Collins, Glen Taylor, Charles Riechelmann, Craig Dowd (captain), Paul Mitchell, Jason Barrell.
1999: Otago Highlanders vs Canterbury Crusaders
Canterbury Crusaders 24
Otago Highlanders 19
Carisbrook
20 May 1999.
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)
For the third year in succession both finalists were New Zealand teams. For the second year in a row Canterbury Crusaders played away from home and won and for the second year in a row the favourites lost. This year the final was an all-South Island affair.
Canterbury Crusaders only just made it to the semi-final and then won well against Queensland in Brisbane while Otago Highlanders thrashed the Stormers in Cape Town to get into the final.
It was the best Super 12 final to date and in the end the issue was decided by the boot of Andrew Mehrtens. The Highlanders led 14-9 at half-time after Brian Lima had started a counterattack and finished it off a short pass from Byron Kelleher. The Crusaders went ahead in the second half with two excellent tries, first when Daryl Gibson took a short pass from Mehrtens to score and then a brilliant effort by Afato So'oalo who beat Lima and then won a chip-and-chase to score. This made the score 21-14. Mehrtens added a drop and when Isitolo Maka scored three minutes from the end the match was, to all intents and purposes, won.
Scorers:
For Canterbury Crusaders:
Tries: Daryl Gibson, Afato So'oalo
Con: Andrew Mehrtens
Drop: Andrew Mehrtens
Pens: Andrew Mehrtens 3
For Otago Highlanders:
Tries: Brian Lima, Isitolo Maka;
Drop: Brendan Laney
Pens: Tony Brown 2
Teams:
Canterbury Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Caleb Ralph, Daryl Gibson, Norm Berryman ,Afato So'oalo, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Steve Surridge, Reuben Thorne, Angus Gardiner, Norm Maxwell, Todd Blackadder (captain), Greg Feek, Mark Hammett, Greg Somerville
Otago Highlanders: Jeff Wilson, Brendan Laney, Pita Alatini, Romi Ropati,, Brian Lima, Tony Brown, Byron Kelleher, Isitolo Maka, Taine Randell (captain), Josh Kronfeld, Brendon Timmins, John Blaikie, Kees Meeuws, Anton Oliver, Carl Hoeft.
2000: Crusaders vs Brumbies
Crusaders 20
Brumbies 19
Bruce Stadium
27 May 2000
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)
The Brumbies had ended top of the table with the Crusaders second. That meant a Canberra final after they had each demolished the hopes of their opponents in the semi-finals.
Bruce Stadium was freezing for this night final. Andrew Mehrtens matched the weather with his icy nerve. Where Stirling Mortlock missed four out of nine, Mehrtens goaled five out of six, including the match-winning penalty at the dying of the match.
Scorers:
For Crusaders:
Try: Ron Cribb
Pens: Andrew Mehrtens 5
For Brumbies:
Try: George Smith
Con: Stirling Mortlock
Pens: Stirling Mortlock 4
Teams:
Brumbies: Andrew Walker, Joe Roff, Rod Kafer, Stirling Mortlock, Mark Bartholomeusz, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan, Jim Williams, Ipolito Fenukitau, Brett Robinson (captain), Justin Harrison, David Giffin, Patricio Noriega, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young.
Canterbury Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Caleb Ralph, Daryl Gibson, Mark Robinson, Marika Vunibaka, Andrew Mehrtens, Ben Hurst, Ron Cribb, Reuben Thorne, Scott Robertson 5 Norm Maxwell, Todd Blackadder (captain), Greg Feek, Mark Hammett, Greg Somerville
2001 Brumbies vs Sharks
Brumbies 30
Sharks 6
Bruce Stadium
19 May 2001
Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
The Brumbies were top, the Sharks second. So the final was in Canberra.
This was the first time a non-New Zealand team had won the Super 12, the first time no New Zealand team had made the semi-final.
The Sharks had beaten the Brumbies in the home matches but were well beaten in the second half of the final. After missing six kicks at goal in the first half, the Sharks were still level at 6-all at half-time. The Brumbies galloped away with the second half.
Scorers:
For Brumbies:
Tries: Joe Roff 2, David Giffin
Cons: Andrew Walker 3
Pens: Andrew Walker 5
For Sharks:
Pens: Butch James 2
Teams:
Brumbies: Andrew Walker, Joe Roff, James Holbeck, Rod Kafer, Graeme Bond, Steve Larkham, George Gregan (captain), Jim Williams, George Smith, Peter Ryan, Justin Harrison, David Giffin, Ben Darwin, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young
Sharks: Ricardo Loubscher, Justin Swart, Trevor Halstead, Deon Kayser, Stefan Terblanche, Butch James, Craig Davidson, AJ Venter, Charl van Rensburg, Warren Britz, Albert van den Berg, Mark Andrews (captain), Ollie le Roux, John Smit, Etienne Fynn .
2002: Crusaders vs Brumbies
Crusaders 31
Brumbies: 13
Jade Stadium
25 May 2002
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)
It was the perfect Super 12 for the Crusaders. They played 13 and won 13. They scored 30 points or more in every one of the 13 matches. They were by some way the best side in the 2002 Super 12. In the last round of the league they played the second-placed Waratahs and beat them 96-19
The margin of victory in the final is a big one but with seven minutes to play they led just 14-13, but then Caleb Ralph scored two tries in three minutes.
Scorers:
For Crusaders:
Tries: Caleb Ralph 2, Marika Vunibaka
Cons: Andrew Mehrtens 2
Drop: Andrew Mehrtens
Pens: Andrew Mehrtens 3
For Brumbies:
Try: Andrew Walker
Con: Andrew Walker
Pens: Andrew Walker 2
Teams:
Brumbies: Mark Bartholomeusz, Graeme Bond, Stirling Mortlock, Pat Howard, Andrew Walker, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan, Scott Fava, George Smith, Owen Finegan, Justin Harrison, Daniel Vickerman, Ben Darwin, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young.
Canterbury Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Marika Vunibaka, Mark Robinson, Aaron Mauger, Caleb Ralph, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Scott Robertson, Richie McCaw, Reuben Thorne (captain), Norm Maxwell, Chris Jack, Greg Feek, Mark Hammett, Greg Somerville
2003 Blues vs Crusaders
Blues 21
Crusaders 17
Eden Park
24 May 2003
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)
The Crusaders did not win! That seems astonishing given their magnificent record in Super 12 finals, but for the second year in a row they did not hoist the trophy in triumph.
Missing from most of the Crusaders' campaign was veteran points' machine Andrew Mehrtens. He was largely displaced by young Daniel Carter.
In the end kicking counted. The Crusaders, who led 10-6 at half-time, scored three tries to two but lost to Carlos Spencer's boot. Mehrtens came on as a replacement for Marika Vunibaka just before half-time but managed only a single conversion,
Scorers:
For Blues:
Tries: Doug Howlett, Daniel Braid
Con: Carlos Spencer
Pens: Carlos Spencer 3
For Crusaders:
Tries: Mark Hammett 2, Caleb Ralph
Con: Mehrtens
The teams:
Blues: Doug Howlett, Rico Gear, Mils Muliaina, Sam Tuitupou, Joe Rokocoko, Carlos Spencer, David Gibson, Xavier Rush (captain), Daniel Braid, Justin Collins, Ali Williams, Angus MacDonald, Kees Meeuws, Keven Mealamu, Deacon Manu.
Replacements: Derren Witcombe, Tony Woodcock, Bradley Mika , Mose Tuiali'i, Craig McGrath, Orene Ai'i, Lee Stensness.
Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Marika Vunibaka, Caleb Ralph, Daniel Carter, Joe Maddock, Aaron Mauger, Justin Marshall, Scott Robertson, Richard McCaw, Reuben Thorne (captain), Chris Jack, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Mark Hammett, David Hewett.
Replacements: Slade McFarland, Greg Feek, Sam Broomhall, Johnny Leo'o, Ben Hurst. Andrew Mehrtens, Scott Hamilton
2004 Brumbies vs Crusaders
Brumbies: 47
Crusaders 38
Canberra Stadium
22 May 2004
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)
It was a brilliant final with 13 tries. The number of tries says it all. Numerous match, team and individual records were broken.
After just 18 minutes the Brumbies led an incredible 33-0 after scoring five brilliant tries. By half-time it was 33-14, and even though the proud Crusaders fought back they could not overall the energetic Brumbies.
Scorers:
For Brumbies:
Tries: Joe Roff 2, Mark Gerrard 3, Matt Giteau, Jeremy Paul
Cons: Joe Roff 6
For Crusaders:
Tries: Aaron Mauger, Daniel Carter, Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn, Chris King, Casey Laulala
Cons: Daniel Carter 4
Teams:
Brumbies: Joe Roff, Mark Gerrard, Joel Wilson, Matt Giteau, Clyde Rathbone, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan, Scott Fava, George Smith, Owen Finegan (captain), Radike Samo, Mark Chisholm, 3 Nic Henderson, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young
Replacements: David Palavi, Guy Shepherdson, David Giffin, Jone Tawake, Matt Henjak, Lenny Beckett, Mark Bartholomeusz
Crusaders: Ben Blair, Marika Vunibaka, Aaron Mauger, Daniel Carter, Marika Vunibaka, Cameron McIntyre, Justin Marshall, Sam Broomhall, Reuben Thorne (captain), Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn, Chris Jack, 3 Greg Somerville, Tone Kopelani, David Hewett.
Replacements: Corey Flynn, Chris King, Ross Filipo, Johnny Leo'o, Andrew Mehrtens, Jamie Nutbrown, Casey Laulala.
2005 Crusaders vs Waratahs
Crusaders 35
Waratahs 25
Jade Stadium
20 May 2005
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
The laughing Crusaders were simply at their best, running free, supporting one another and scoring tries. At half-time they led only 14-6 but that soon grew to 35-6 before three late tries made the willing Waratahs look more competitive.
It was the 690th and last Super 12 match of all time as SANZAR expanded the competition to the Super 14.
Not only did the Crusaders win the last ever Super 12 tournament, but they have won as many titles in the past 10 years (five) as all other 11 teams put together. The other five titles went to the Blues (three) and the Brumbies (two).
Scorers:
For Crusaders:
Tries: Scott Hamilton, Leon MacDonald, Dave Hewett, Caleb Ralph
Cons: Daniel Carter 3
Pens: Daniel Carter 2
Drop: Aaron Mauger
For Waratahs:
Tries: Mat Rogers 2, Phil Waugh
Cons: Peter Hewat, Mat Rogers
Pens: Peter Hewat 2
Teams:
Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Caleb Ralph, Aaron Mauger, Scott Hamilton, Daniel Carter, Justin Marshall, Mose Tuiali'i, Richie McCaw (captain), Reuben Thorne, Ross Filipo, Chris Jack, Greg Somerville, Corey Flynn, Dave Hewett.
Replacements: Tone Kopelani, Campbell Johnstone, Sam Broomhall, Johnny Leo'o, Jamie Nutbrown, Andrew Mehrtens, Casey Laulala.
Waratahs: Mat Rogers, Peter Hewat, Morgan Turinui, Nathan Grey, Lote Tuqiri, Lachlan MacKay, Chris Whitaker (captain), David Lyons, Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom, Daniel Vickerman, Justin Harrison, Alastair Baxter, Brendan Cannon, Matt Dunning.
Replacements: Adam Freier, Gareth Hardy, Alex Kanaar, Stephen Hoiles, Chris O'Young, Shaun Berne, Cameron Shepherd. |
