That winning feeling
24 Feb 2010
SA Rugby magazine selects six of the best South African Super Rugby wins.
Reds 25 Sharks 43
Brisbane, 1996
Queensland were a formidable unit in the first season of Super Rugby, and after beating Gary Teichmann’s Natal team in a Kings Park nail-biter in a league match just a few weeks earlier, they started this semi-final as overwhelming favourites. Even in those days Natal had a reputation for being good travellers, and from an early stage of the semi-final it was clear they were up for it. Their phalanx of Springboks were all in superb form, with Cabous van der Westhuizen scoring a hat-trick and André Joubert a double.
Highlanders 18 Cheetahs 49
Invercargill, 1997
Free State qualified for their first Super Rugby campaign in 1997 (ahead of Western Province) and finished a respectable seventh on the log. Arguably their best performance came against the Highlanders in Invercargill, where they scored seven tries, including two each from Chris Badenhorst and Naka Drotské. After leading 21-15 at half-time, they totally outplayed the hosts in the second spell. It remains the Cheetahs’ only overseas win in Super Rugby.
Stormers 28 Crusaders 19
Cape Town, 1999
The sad part of this game, which was played on a Sunday, was that it saw the end of Bob Skinstad’s finest form as a rugby player. The Crusaders were the champions, the Stormers were rated the form team in the competition, and with Skinstad outstanding as a player and leader, the Stormers were all over the Crusaders. Although there were only nine points in it in the end as the Crusaders launched a late rally, the result was never in doubt. The win established the Stormers as tournament favourites, but then came the late-night car accident that ruined Skinstad’s knee and effectively ended their title aspirations.
Blues 23, Stormers 51
Auckland, 2004
At the time this was easily the most emphatic win scored by a South African team over a major New Zealand franchise away from home. The Stormers had won well in Auckland on their previous visit, and in the early stages of the game there would have been no inkling of what was to come, as the two sides looked evenly matched. However, about a quarter of an hour before half-time, the Stormers suddenly hit a purple patch in which every ball bounced perfectly for them, with Werner Greeff and the rest of the Stormers backs running riot. The visitors finished with eight tries, including two each from Adri Badenhorst and Tonderai Chavhanga.
Force 24 Lions 25
Perth, 2007
This narrow win wasn’t the most polished performance by a South African team in Super Rugby history, but it warrants a mention simply because it broke a long drought for the Lions in Australia. It was Eugene Eloff’s first season in charge, and the Lions were in a confident mood and playing spirited rugby after beating the Crusaders in Jo’burg the previous week. But when the Force took the lead in the second half after the Lions had been in front for much of the way, it looked like a familiar theme would play itself out. That was when André Pretorius stepped up to slot a late pressure penalty that sent the Lions into a celebration rarely experienced by them away from Ellis Park.
Bulls 61 Chiefs 17
Pretoria, 2009
The first South African triumph in the Super 14 had come after a tense struggle between two local sides in 2007, but 2009 was the year where a South African franchise really took the competition by the scruff and underlined their dominance. The Chiefs scored first in the final and for a moment it looked like there may be a deviation from the anticipated script, but the 
Bulls struck back quickly and three tries in quick succession effectively shut the New Zealand team out of the game. After that it just became a stampede, with the Bulls completely overwhelming the Chiefs as they rattled up the biggest victory margin in a Super Rugby final.
By Gavin Rich
– This article appears in the latest issue of SA Rugby magazine
61 Comments
24 Feb 2010, 07:23 am
What about the Bulls-Reds game in 2007!?
24 Feb 2010, 07:44 am
Ag shame. A solitary Bulls victory slips in amongst the 6. How generous of you.
Strange that the Bulls 92-3 demolishment of the Reds didn’t make it, given the points requirement and dramatic effect on the semi final placings it resulted in.
Same with 75-14 against the Stormers, which again had a defining impact on semi final positions.
Not to mention the wonderful comeback win against the Crusaders in last year’s semifinal, or the clinical destruction of the Crusaders in the 2007 semi final.
And of course, who can forget the Bulls going down to Durban last year, having to beat the in form Sharks and doing so by 1 point after a seesaw battle of epic proportions.
Of course, if you really think about it, the greatest win was probably the 2007 final, because it broke new ground for SA, and booked thw Bulls place in history.
But don’t worry, Gavin Rich. I’m sure those flash in the pan wins by the Stormers count for much more in your eyes.
By the way, how are things down in Cape Town…
24 Feb 2010, 07:48 am
can remember that Cheaters game…. ’97
they were hammered by the ref … again!….
but they just kept on playing and destroyed the Landers!
Honestly that made me proud to be a South African!
24 Feb 2010, 08:37 am
Carlos Spencer was never the same after that game against the Stormers. Hendrik Gerber moered him in a tackle – Spencer could hardly walk and had to leave the field! Never the same again…
24 Feb 2010, 08:52 am
@Tacitus: Fully agree, how can the Stormers have 2 of the “greatest victories”….. I suppose everything is possible if you have blue & white hooped glasses!!
What about the biggest strike failure….. when the Stormers striked before a semi(i think) Raymond Ackerman had to bail them out with R1 mil…. only to see the stroming strikers having their arses handed to them
24 Feb 2010, 09:02 am
@Taciturn: Shame, you have to give them something I guess. Its Six of the best, I am sure if it was the best six, there would be at least 3 Bulls games i.e. 2007/2009 Finals and Reds smashing.
24 Feb 2010, 09:20 am
Putting up a list like this is always a dangerous thing. One guys “amazing” match is another’s “merely good”.
To me, the Bulls’ annihilation of the chiefs is not their best win. The chiefs gave up and the rest was a formality. The Bulls’ win over the sharks in 07 was better. And the destruction of the reds was also amazing, not just for the score, but that the bulls needed to win by 73\74 points and went for it.
As a stormers supporter, all wins are memorable for us. There’s not that many of them
24 Feb 2010, 09:21 am
@Tacitus:
given the embarrassment the bulls were early in heyneke’s reign, they definitely have a better showing in 6 of the worst…
24 Feb 2010, 09:26 am
@Tacitus: Yes, well why didnt he just make the Bulls wins all six of them?
Doos.
24 Feb 2010, 09:28 am
@Tacitus: But dont worry, keep that one eye firmly shut, the other one is serving you well
24 Feb 2010, 09:31 am
@Tacitus: I agree the 75-14 win of the Bulls over Stormers was a fantastic display considering the points needs.
How the Stormers get 2 into the top 6 is beyond me, as well as the Cheetahs and Lions?
It should be Bulls 4 (75-14 vs Stormers, 92-3 vs Reds, win over Sharks in Final, 61-17 vs Chiefs in Final) and Sharks (43-25 over Reds in Brisbane and their huge win over Otago in the days that Otago was great!)
24 Feb 2010, 09:39 am
6 winning matches ?
Whats the big deal; the Crusaders have won more titles than that.
24 Feb 2010, 09:44 am
The one I remember Blues 23, Stormers 51
24 Feb 2010, 09:46 am
Maybe Keo should also do an article on the teams that came back to earth (or fell from grace) the hardest.
I can immediately think of 2 games:
The Bulls loss of 40-8 to the Reds in 2008 after beating them by about 90 points the year before.
The other game was during the same year – Crusaders 54 Bulls 19. That was the day that I thought there was a bomb scare at Loftus – quickest “evacuation” of a crowd in the history of rugby.
Tacitus will probably have other games in mind.
24 Feb 2010, 09:47 am
@Black Panty: Remember that NZ specifically loaded the Crusaders with their ABs to have the best chance of winning the Super competitions. There were times when the Crusader team was the AB team, everyone had caps.
We could also make the Springbok squad compete as a Super team, then we would also pwn everyone.
So any Crusader victory doesnt count, which means the Bulls have won the most Super competitions.
24 Feb 2010, 09:50 am
Sharks vs Samoa was the hardest game of rugby I’ve seen.
24 Feb 2010, 09:53 am
@BlueBlood: what a load of shite.
24 Feb 2010, 09:55 am
@Oubaas2009:
LoL, I was also trying my best to figure that one out.
24 Feb 2010, 10:00 am
I think Keo should ban bloggers for lack of intelligence. We don’t need stupid.
24 Feb 2010, 10:01 am
As a Lions supporter i have been trying to recall six victories of ANY description! Ah well, that’s another twenty minutes of my life wasted.Still we live in hope.
24 Feb 2010, 10:03 am
@Robzim:
Re: #14.
Hmmm. I can’t say much in response to that pearl of wisdom from your side. Oh wait, I can.
How’s the Stormers’ trophy cabinet looking…
24 Feb 2010, 10:06 am
@Tacitus:
I think they gave us a trophy for winning the first match ever in the new Cape Town stadium. It was against Boland
24 Feb 2010, 10:07 am
All time best S14/S12/S10 XV?
24 Feb 2010, 10:15 am
@Robzim: Congratulations, hopefully for you it is not a floating trophy!
24 Feb 2010, 10:15 am
@BlueBlood: @15
finally, I Safa with a sense of humour.
Well, atleast I hope for his sake. Otherwise perhaps his sister is, in fact, his Mum.
24 Feb 2010, 10:16 am
@Oubaas2009:
Best S12 player was Christian Cullen.
That guy was simply unbelievable.
24 Feb 2010, 10:18 am
@Tacitus: Yah…pity we never had one of those..
24 Feb 2010, 10:20 am
I see the Bulls are getting back to their old ways. You are the best and everything is only blue!
Nothing is allowed to anyone and if its against the bulls it is not right?
Maybe it is because you have Andre Watson squarely behind you…..11/15 SA refs last year and 2/2 refs this year???? Very nice!!! Even old Steve Walsh had to hand you the first title!!!!!
The wheel wil turn just like it did from you winning one game in two years was it????
24 Feb 2010, 10:22 am
@Hoops:
Take your medicine, please. You’re acting irrational again.
24 Feb 2010, 10:24 am
@BlueBlood: ummm havent the Blues won 3 titles… perhaps you may want to rephrase your last sentence…
24 Feb 2010, 10:28 am
@poppa69:
Top Super rugby teams of all time, as it stands now:
1. Crusaders
2. Blues
3. Brumbies
4. Bulls.
The Bulls and Brumbies have equal numbers of titles, but the Brumbies have played in far more finals. If the Bulls were to win it this year, they would move past the Brumbies and equal the Blues on 3 trophies.
24 Feb 2010, 10:32 am
My Super Rugby All Stars
1. Craig Dowd (Auckland Blues)
2. Sean Fitzpatrick (Auckland Blues)
3. Olo Brown (Auckland Blues)
4. Victor Matfield (Bulls)
5. John Eales (Queensland Reds)
6. Owen Finegan (ACT Brumbies)
7. Richie McCaw (Cantebury Crusaders)
8. Zinzan Brooke (Auckland Blues)
9. Justin Marshall (Cantebury Crusaders)
10. Dan Carter (Cantebury Crusaders)
11. Jonah Lomu (Auckland Blues)
12. Aaron Mauger (Cantebury Crusaders)
13. Frank Bunce
14. Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Auckland Blues)
15. Joe Roff (ACT Brumbies)
16. Phil Kearns (NSW Waratahs)
17. Greg Somerville (Cantebury Crusaders)
18. Ian Jones (Auckland Blues)
19. Michael Jones (Auckland Blues)
20. Carlos Spencer (Auckland Blues)
21. Bryan Habana (Bulls)
22. Chris Latham (Queensland Reds)
Coach : Robbie Deans
24 Feb 2010, 10:33 am
@Tacitus: all good Tac, was just helping Blueblood out with his arithmetic
and besides, does 2007 count? isnt it much like 87?
they are indeed setting the standard this year though…
24 Feb 2010, 10:33 am
@Tacitus:
My wish, of course, is to have the Bulls win this year and next year, so that we are alone in second place, with the Crusaders our next target.
I think we need to use the unique experience we have in our current team, as there will inevitably be a slight rebuilding period from 2012 onwards. Although the challenge is to make that transition as smooth as possible. And that’s what Heyeneke Meyer’s job is, at the moment.
24 Feb 2010, 10:34 am
@poppa69:
What’s the excuse for 2009? Food poisoning?
24 Feb 2010, 10:34 am
@Tacitus: Agreed lets add Cullen in at 15 and drop Caucaunibuca for Roff at 14. Latham drops out the squad!
24 Feb 2010, 10:35 am
@Tacitus: altitude Tac, altitude
lol
24 Feb 2010, 10:36 am
@Oubaas2009:
I”m not really interested in each guy posting his personal preference for best Super 15. This thread will never end.
24 Feb 2010, 10:36 am
@Oubaas2009: You left out Joost.
24 Feb 2010, 10:37 am
@Oubaas2009:
That is indeed one hell of a team.
What about Tim Horan?
24 Feb 2010, 10:39 am
@Dantalian: No one with holes in their underpants plays in the All Stars!
Put Gregan on the bench, forgot a reserve scrummy.
24 Feb 2010, 10:40 am
@Oubaas2009:
Fourie du Preez is better than all of those scrumhalves.
24 Feb 2010, 10:41 am
@Oubaas2009:
Can’t penalise the man for his private lif. He’s a champ. Best ever imo. I’d have Furry on the bench. 
24 Feb 2010, 10:41 am
@Tacitus: its not a world xv its a super rugby 15. We don’t play kick and chase.
24 Feb 2010, 10:44 am
@Oubaas2009:
Kick and chase lead to the biggest Super 14 final victory ever…
You have to understand that there is a reason why SA scrumhalves are so good. While the Kiwis and Aussies let their flyhalves and inside centres dictate their games, in SA the focus is shifted closer to the pack, and the scrumhalf assumes the leading role in the team’s tactical approach.
The scrumhalf is the key decisionmaker for us, and not the flyhalf. Heck, go back all the way to the 95 final, Stransky was shouting NO, NO but Joost decided they should go for the drop. Stransky just had to go for it.
24 Feb 2010, 10:45 am
reds also have 2 wins in super rugby least we forget their 94, 95 wins over Natal and Transvaal.
@Robzim: yip will have to fit Timmy H in there somewhere!
24 Feb 2010, 10:45 am
Jeff Wilson/David Campese/Josh Kronfeld would also challenge very hard.
Skinstad on the bench?
24 Feb 2010, 10:46 am
@Oubaas2009:
Super 10 was a different competition altogether. Doesn’t count.
24 Feb 2010, 10:47 am
@Robzim:
Hahaha.
Hahaha.
Hahahahahaha!
24 Feb 2010, 10:50 am
@Tacitus:
I thought the bait would just be too much for you to resist
24 Feb 2010, 10:50 am
@Robzim:
Yup. Priceless!
24 Feb 2010, 10:52 am
@Tacitus: S10 different? And how so? Besides the obvious? Its still Super Rugby old chap. Doesn’t take anything away from your beloved Bonehead Bulls victories though, just means the Reds have 2 Super Rugby titles.
In those days there were no easy weekends like there are now.
24 Feb 2010, 10:53 am
@Tacitus:
To be fair, he had one brilliant year.
24 Feb 2010, 10:55 am
@Oubaas2009:
It was an inter-provincial competition, not a a regional one. And it was before the establishment of SANZAR, if I recall correctly.
24 Feb 2010, 10:56 am
@Oubaas2009:
It was also in the days of amateur rugby. So no professional teams involved.
24 Feb 2010, 11:05 am
They were also invitation-only, exclusive rather than inclusive. Super rugby relevant from 1996 only
24 Feb 2010, 11:10 am
@Tacitus: well according to the s14 dot com website it was still super rugby. I will take their word for it over yours.
24 Feb 2010, 11:28 am
@Tacitus: Great to hear that amateur results don’t count. Lets scratch New Zealand and Australia’s name off the Web Ellis trophy oh ja and ours too!
24 Feb 2010, 15:22 pm
@Oubaas2009: why not at least we’d have one cup .
25 Feb 2010, 03:06 am
@BULLETHEAD Jnr: As would we
@Oubaas2009: Bloody good team that. Made a couple adjustments just based on consistency and duration. Some of the players on yours only played 1-2 seasons in Super Rugby, while others were fantastic Test players but never actually achieved much in the Super format.
1. Craig Dowd (Auckland Blues)
2. Sean Fitzpatrick (Auckland Blues)
3. Mark Hammett (Crusaders)
4. Victor Matfield (Bulls)
5. David Giffin (ACT Brumbies)
6. Owen Finegan (ACT Brumbies)
7. Richie McCaw (Cantebury Crusaders)
8. Zinzan Brooke (Auckland Blues)
9. Justin Marshall (Cantebury Crusaders)
10. Dan Carter (Cantebury Crusaders)
11. Bryan Habana (Bulls)
12. Aaron Mauger (Cantebury Crusaders)
13. Stirling Mortlock (ACT Brumbies)
14. Joe Roff (ACT Brumbies)
15. Christian Cullen (Hurricanes)
16. Jeremy Paul (ACT Brumbies)
17. Kees Meeuws (Blues)
18. Bakkies Botha (Bulls)
19. George Smith (Brumbies)/Reuben Thorne (Crusaders)/ Josh Kronfeld (Higlanders)
20. George Gregan (Brumbies)/Fourie Du Preez (Bulls)
21. Steve Larkham (Brumbies)/Carlos Spencer (Auckland Blues)/Andrew Mehrtens (Crusaders)
22. Chris Latham (Queensland Reds)/ Doug Howlett (Blues)
This is harder than it looks. So many players I want to pick!
25 Feb 2010, 03:09 am
@DonutDunning: Woops I buggered up that front row.
Hammett was meant to be at no.2 with Greg Somerville (Crusaders) at no.3
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.