A New Zealand rugby scribe has ranked every final in Super Rugby history and chose an all-SA final at the top of the list.
As the Super Rugby season draws to a close this weekend with an all-New Zealand decider between arch-rivals the Crusaders and the Chiefs, NZ Herald’s Cameron McMillan took a look back at all 31 finals and ranked them from worst to best.
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It’s no real surprise that McMillan opted for the Bulls’ thrilling, injury-time victory over the Sharks in 2007 as the best ever, because that match had it all!
Here’s his synopsis of that epic final:
Hands down the best finish to a final. The Sharks looked to have secured a maiden title with an Albert Van den Berg try in the 78th minute to make it 19-13, however Francois Steyn missed a fairly simple conversion which would have made it an eight-point buffer.
Down by six points and seven seconds left on the clock, Bulls hooker Gary Botha kicked away possession which should have been the game…for some reason Steyn then kicked the ball straight back. A minute later with time expired Habana was tackled near the touchline…for some reason the Sharks didn’t get him into touch. Then the Bulls moved down the field and the Sharks looked to have turned the ball over…for some reason they lost possession again. 38 seconds later Habana crossed over for the match-winner in a crazy finish. The Sharks botched the final to lose their third final in a match which included two try-saving tackles and some individual brilliance from Habana to win it.
Fun fact: Habana and nine of his Bulls teammates would go on to win the Rugby World Cup in the same year – the first players to do the double.
Photo: Gallo Images
