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Which team is the greatest Super Rugby side in history?

18th June, 2015
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The Waratahs reckon they can still make a fist of 2017. (AAP Image/Daniel Munoz)
Roar Guru
18th June, 2015
106
2250 Reads

In three weeks the 2015 Super Rugby champion will be crowned, not only bringing a close to the season, but also the competition in its current format.

Next year the competition celebrates its 20th birthday and expands to 18 teams, including for the first time teams from Argentina and Asia.

So let’s take a moment to reflect on the history of the competition, and in particular those champion teams that have won it.

The New Zealand Herald recently ran a poll asking “Which team is the greatest Super rugby side of all time?”

I don’t have the know-how to conduct a similar poll on The Roar so I’ll just ask the question of Roarers to submit their opinion.

I’ll also clarify a few predictable points of contention.

The different competition formats over the years doesn’t matter – a title win is a title win. The inequities of the conference system and bonus points also doesn’t matter.

You can only nominate one team. Draw a line in the sand and stick to it, as much as you admire other title winning teams. This is also not a question of the strength of one nation over another – the question is “Which team is the greatest?”

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Here are some statistics taken from the New Zealand Herald article as supporting evidence for some of those team’s claims.

1997 Blues
Record: 10 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses
Points differential: plus 13.81 per game

The Blues were the first team to finish the competition unbeaten.

2001 Brumbies
Record: 8 wins, 3 losses
Points differential: plus 13.09 per game

The Brumbies were the first Australian team to win the title, however the 2000 Brumbies side were in my opinion a better team. The 2000 side had a superior points differential, the third highest in competition history, but lost by a single point in the final.

2002 Crusaders
Record: 11 wins, 0 losses
Points differential: plus 18.64 per game

First and only team to win every game, memorable for the near century they scored against the Waratahs.

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2003 Blues
Record: 10 wins, 1 loss
Points differential: plus 18.90 per game

Owner of the highest points differential in Super rugby history. The Blues averaged 35.7 points per game in what was a historic season for the franchise.

2004 Brumbies
Record: 8 wins, 3 losses
Points differential: plus 12.63 per game

Recorded the highest winning score in a final at the time, 47 points against the Crusaders.

2005 Crusaders
Record: 9 wins 2 losses
Points differential: plus 16.18 per game

Hold the record for most points scored in a season and most tries with 71. Crusaders averaged 41.7 points per game that year, one of the finest teams from this proud club’s history.

2006 Crusaders
Record: 11 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss
Points differential: plus 15.54 per game

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Started their season with nine straight wins. Infamous for winning their title in the final that nobody saw.

2009 Bulls
Record: 12 wins, 3 losses
Points differential: plus 5.15 per game

The Bulls featured a staggering 17 Springbok internationals in Round 22 that season and 14 in their starting XV. Owner of the highest winning score and margin in a final with their 61-17 victory.

2011 Reds
Record: 13 wins, 3 losses
Points differential: plus 120 for the season. (Couldn’t find a points differential per game statistic.)

Breakthrough victory for the Reds. Their title run was marked by the inventiveness of their attack led by Quade Cooper and Will Genia and the dynamism of their underrated forward pack. One of the most entertaining champion sides to watch in Super rugby history.

2012 Chiefs
Record: 12 wins, 4 losses
Points differential: plus 5.38 per game

Their season record was inferior to the Stormers who topped the competition with a record 14 wins, but this breakthrough victory for the club was marked by the lack of Test internationals in their starting XV and squad in comparison to other championship winning teams. The Chiefs are one of only four teams to win back-to-back championships.

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2014 Waratahs
Record: 12 wins, 4 losses
Points differential: plus 13.06 per game

Breakthrough victory for the Waratahs and one of the best Australian sides in Super history. Their points differential and tries scored is the best in Super Rugby format. Their commitment to keeping the ball in hand tested the resolve and fitness of all defences.

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