RUGBY UNION - SUPER 12 / 14
1996
Final - Natal Sharks (21) @ (45) Auckland Blues - In the inaugural Super 12 Final, Auckland out-lasted the Sharks to win. The Blues had the edge at half-time, holding a 20-16 lead, and then pulled away in the 2nd half to win. The Auckland tries came from Carlos Spencer, Charles Riechelmann, Eroni Clarke, Johnny Ngauamo and Jonah Lomu with Adrian Cashmore adding 15 points with the boot. Auckland also featured Sean Fitzpatrick and Zinzan Brooke. The Natal tries came from Andre Joubert and James Small with Henry Honiball adding 11 points with the boot. Natal also featured Gary Teichman and Mark Andrews (8, Downloaded from the internet - Slight pixellation - 37 minutes hi-lites, 1 Disc, SKY - Nisbett/Mains, PAL)
1997
Semi-Final - Natal Sharks (36) @ (55) Auckland Blues - Auckland booked a place in their 2nd straight Super 12 final with a huge win over the Sharks at Eden Park. After conceding an early Natal try, the Blues rattled off 38 unanswered points to lead 38-5 at the half. The Sharks attempted a come back in the 2nd half but the Blues held on for the win. The Auckland tries came from Joeli Vidiri (2), Zinzan Brooke, Mark Carter, Carlos Spencer, Eroni Clarke and Adrian Cashmore. Auckland also featured Sean Fitzpatrick, Brian Lima and Lee Stensness. The Natal tries came from Lawrence Payne (2), Joos Joubert, Henry Honiball and Errol Steward. Natal also featured Andre Joubert and Gary Teichman (8, Downloaded from the internet - Slight pixellation - 27 minutes hi-lites, 1 Disc, SKY - Nisbett/Howarth, PAL)
2002
Super 12 Round 12 - NSW Waratahs (19) @ (96) Canterbury Crusaders - On a record-setting night in Christchurch, #1 Canterbury steam-rollered the #2 Waratahs. Canterbury led 63-0 at the half, running in 9 tries, and, despite a better 2nd half showing from the visitors, the Crusaders ran in another 5 tries to end the scoring. Canterbury set competition records for most points scored by a winning team, most tries scored in 1 game and most conversions kicked in 1 game (13). The Crusaders tries came from Caleb Ralph (4), Leon MacDonald (2), Marika Vunibaka (2), Scott Robertson, Aaron Mauger, Daryl Gibson, Greg Feek and Justin Marshall with Andrew Mehrtens kicking the 13 conversions. The Waratahs tries came from Des Tuiavii, Francis Cullimore and Marc Stcherbina. The Crusaders also featured Richie McCaw and Chris Jack. the Waratahs also featured David Lyons, Manny Edmonds, Mat Rogers and Matthew Burke (7, Copied from an internet stream, 2 Discs, SKY - Nisbett/Drake/Smith, PAL)
2004
Super 12 Final - Canterbury Crusaders (38) @ (47) ACT Brumbies - The Brumbies won their 1st ever Super 12 title with an explosive offensive performance against the fancied Crusaders. The Brumbies were 33-0 in front after the first 19 minutes but the Crusaders clawed back into the game to get close enough to win before Joe Roff shut the door with a late try. With his 2 tries, Joe Roff set the tournament record for most tries scored. The Brumbies also featured George Gregan, Chris Larkham and Mark Gerrard. The Crusaders featured Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Reuben Thorne and Justin Marshall (2 versions : 8, Copied from Internet stream, 2 Discs, SKY - Nisbett/Mexted/Johnson, PAL / 7, Jumpy picture, 1 Disc, FOX - Clark/Martin/Kearns, PAL)
2005
Super 12 Semi-Final - Wellington Hurricanes (7) @ (47) Canterbury Crusaders - The Crusaders showed why they are ranked #1 with an impressive 6 try offensive display with 3 tries from Scott Hamilton (9, 2 Discs, SKY NZ - Johnson/Mexted/Smith, PAL)
Super 12 Semi-Final - Pretoria Blue Bulls (13) @ (23) NSW Waratahs - The Waratahs reach their 1st final with a hard fought win over the Bulls, outscoring them 2 tries to 1 (9, 2 Discs, FOX - Clark/Martin/Kearns, PAL)
Super 12 Final - NSW Waratahs (25) @ (35) Canterbury Crusaders - The Crusaders were dominant with Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter helping the Crusaders to their 5th Super 12 title (9, 2 Discs, SKY NZ - Johnson/Mexted/Smith, PAL)
2007
Super 14 - Canterbury Crusaders (26) @ (27) Natal Sharks - The Sharks upset the defending champions by scoring the winning try and conversion after the hooter had sounded for the end of the game. The Sharks took the ball from deep in their own half and ran the length of the field to score. Ruan Pienaar then kicked the winning conversion from the touchline to keep the Sharks unbeaten (10, 1 Disc, SKY - Capostagno/Brosnihan, PAL)
Super 14 - Canterbury Crusaders (34) @ (33) NSW Waratahs - The Crusaders raced out to a 22-5 lead after 30 minutes but the Waratahs fought back to 34-33 but, despite heavy pressure, couldn't find the breakthrough. The moment of the game was a 12th minute try from Waratahs new sensation Lachlan Turner, who sped 60 metres past All-Blacks Rico Gear and Leon Macdonald (7, heavy pixellation, 1 Disc, FOX - Clark/Martin/Kearns, PAL)
Super 14 - Waikato Chiefs (30) @ (24) Canterbury Crusaders - The Chiefs ended the Crusaders 26 game home win streak with 2 tries from Sivivatu but the Crusaders scored with the last play of the game to earn a vital bonus point and a place in the Semi-Final. The Chiefs also featured Mils Muliaina and Marty Holah. The Crusaders featured Richie McCaw, Chris Jack, Rico Gear and Leon Macdonald (9, 1 Disc, SKY NZ -Nisbett/Drake/Cooper, PAL)
Super 14 - Queensland Reds (3) @ (92) Pretoria Bulls - The Bulls needed to win by 72 points to ensure a home semi-final tie. The Reds scored first but the Bulls countered with a Super 14 record 92 points on 13 tries and 1 penalty. Bryan Habana and Pierre Spies each scored 2 tries (9, 1 Disc, Supersport - Bladen/Stransky, PAL)
Super 14 Final - Natal Sharks (19) v (20) Pretoria Bulls - In the 1st ever all-South African Super 14 final, it was the Sharks that took the lead and held it until the 80th minute. Unfortunately, with the final move of the game, Bulls winger Bryan Habana sped through to score and take the lead for the Bulls for the 1st time in the game (10, 1 Disc, Supersport - Bladen/Stransky, PAL)
2008
Super 14 - Waikato Chiefs (25) @ (47) Natal Sharks - The Sharks needed a win by 18 points or to score 4 tries and win to jump from 6th to 4th place in the final standings and claim a semi-final spot. Despite a nervy start, the Sharks finally took control and run out easy winners, scoring 6 tries and winning by 22 points. The stars for the Sharks were Stefan Terblanche and Bismarck Du Plessis. The tries cam from Pienaar, Jacobs, Du Plessis, Sykes, Kankowski (2) and Ndungane (10, 1 Disc, SKY - Capostagno/Brosnihan, PAL)
2009
Super 14 Semi-Final - Wellington Hurricanes (10) @ (14) Waikato Chiefs - The Chiefs booked their place in thier first ever Super 14 final with a close win over the Hurricanes. The Chiefs out-scored the Hurricanes 2 tries to 1 and, as thick fog descended in the final minutes, needed great defensive stand in the final seconds to deny Wellington a winning try. The Chiefs featured Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald and Sione Lauaki. The Hurricanes were led by Rodney So'oialo and also featured Ma'a Nonu, Piri Weepu and Victor Vito (10, 2 Discs, SKY NZ - Nisbett/Fox/Smith, PAL)
Super 14 Semi-Final - Canterbury Crusaders (23) @ (36) Pretoria Blue Bulls - The Bulls stunned the Champions with a blistering comeback from a 20-7 deficit to reach their 2nd final in 3 years. The Crusaders used early pressure to secure a 20-7 lead in the 1st half but then watched the Bulls score 20 points in 8 minutes to take the lead and the initiative. The Bulls then consolidated their lead with Morne Steyn converting 4 drop-goals and the defense holding the Crusaders to kust 3 points in the 2nd half. The Bulls also featured Bryan Habana, Pierre Spies, Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez. The Crusaders were led by Richie McCaw and also featured Leon Macdonald, Adam Whitelock, Stephen Brett and Brad Thorn (10, 2 Discs, Supersport - Bladen/Stransky, PAL)
Super 14 Final - Waikato Chiefs (17) @ (61) Pretoria Blue Bulls - The Bulls captured their 2nd title in 3 years with a dominating win over the Chiefs and the margin of victory set a Super 14 Final record. The Bulls survived early pressure from the Chiefs and ran in 8 tries from Fourie Du Preez (2), Bryan Habana (2), Victor Matfield, Wynand Olivier, Pierre Spies and Danie Rossouw. The Chiefs featured Mils Muliaina, Stephen Donald and Sione Lauaki (10, 2 Discs, Supersport - Wiese / Stransky/Skinstad, PAL)
2010
Super 14 - Waikato Chiefs (72) @ (65) Lions - In a record-setting game in Johannesburg, the Chiefs held off a big comeback from the Lions to stay unbeaten in Super 14 play. The Lions actually led 25-17 in the 1st half before the Chiefs scored 48 unanswered points to take control of the game. The Lions then mounted a comeback but could only get as close as 7 points, with the final try coming 4 minutes into injury time. The game set records for most tries (18) and highest combined score (137 points). Chiefs centre Richard Kahui and Lions wing Wandile Mjekevu both scored hat-tricks (10, 1 Disc, Supersport - Bladen/Stransky, PAL)
2011
Regular Season - Natal Sharks (28) v (44) Canterbury Crusaders - On a historic day for the Super 15, the Crusaders edged the Sharks in a wide open game at Twickenham. The game was the 1st ever Super 15 match played outisde the SANZAR countries due to the earthquake damage to the Crusaders home stadium. Both teams played great attacking rugby with plenty of big hits aswell, with the Crusaders building a 34-18 lead at the half then holding off a strong comeback by the Sharks to take the win. The Crusaders out-scored the Sharks 5 tries to 4 with the Crusaders tries coming from Sean Maitland (2), Dan Carter, Israel Dagg and Zac Guildford with Dan Carter also kicking 3 penalties. The Sharks tries came from Willem Alberts, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Alistair Hargreaves and Odwa Ndungane but Potgieter had a bad day with the boot only kicking 1 conversion. The Crusaders also featured Sonny Bill Williams, Kieran Read and Chris Jack off the bench. The Sharks also featured John Smit, Ryan Kankowski, Bismark Du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira off the bench (10, 1 Disc, SKY - Harrison/Barnes/Marshall, PAL)
Super 15 Final - Canterbury Crusaders (13) @ (18) Queensland Reds - In the 1st ever Super 15 final, Queensland upset the odds to win their 1st ever title. Despite dominating the 1st half the Crusaders only led 7-6 at half-time and the Reds made the New Zelanders pay, scoring 2 tries in the 2nd half from Digby Ioane and the match-winner from Will Genia, a sensational 55 metre run with 12 minutes left. The Reds played great defense to keep the Crusaders away from the try line and took the win at the siren. The Reds also featured Quade Cooper and James Horwill. The Crusaders were led by Dan Carter (who scored all the Crusaders points with 1 try, 1 conversion and 2 penalties), Richie McCaw and Sonny Bill Williams (10, 1 Disc, FOX - Clark/Martin/Horan/Kafer, PAL)
2017
25/02/17 - Hurricanes (83) @ (17) Sunwolves - The Hurricanes opened their defense of the title with a dominating win in Tokyo. The Hurricanes raced out to a 45-5 lead at half-time and kept their foot on the gas for most of the 2nd half to record their 1st win of the season. The Hurricanes scored a club record 13 tries. The tries came from Ardie Savea (2), Michael Fatialofa (2), Vince Aso (2), Ricky Riccitelli, TJ Perenara, Julian Savea, Ngani Laumape, Blade Thomson, Brad Shields and Wes Goosen. The Sunwolves tries came from Riaan Viljoen, Shokei Kin and Willie Britz (9, SD Broadcast, SKY NZ - Laban/Thompson/Freeman, PAL)