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?”
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.
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
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.
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.
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Can't go past my beloved Crusaders' perfect season Sam but I echo Nick's view that King Carlos' Blues with Joele Vidiri and Rupeni were frighteningly good and just had star firepower all over the park. The strength of the Crusaders has always been their team work but the Blues of that era could just dash all hopes of winning with individual brilliance. A frightening but awe-inspiring sight.
Taylorman
Guest
Yeah I do t know the area that well I just recall Hansen saying all bets were off when someone poached I can't recall who from Canterbury to play for Otago, not the done thing at the time, so they got McCaw up and got a 'better deal' sky to speak.
Wal
Roar Guru
Taylorman Technically McCaw is from Canterbury, The Hakateremea Valley is in Canterbury, Kurow the closest town and where he played Rugby is in North Otago, but the McCaw farm is in Canterbury. But I am completely with you on the small province thing. Last years ITM cup final was between Taranaki v Tasman 2 regions with just on 100,000 people
cantab
Guest
02 'saders.
wardad
Guest
Being born and bred by the banks of the mighty Waikato and Tainui to the core I could not countenance any name other than the Waikato Chiefs . Semantics maybe but the connection through that name means heaps to me .
Taylorman
Guest
Forgot about Lee Stensness, liked him but he sure got a lot of flack.
Taylorman
Guest
The BOP, Chiefs, Auckland, Cantabrian, Crusader, Reds player? I think the very first to pack bags and play for the 'enemy' but still a perfect example of my point, Ralph was an average All Black last playing in 03 but continuing to break records and play SXV through to 2011.
Breakdown
Guest
do you mean the Hurricanes?
Sam Taulelei
Roar Guru
If that back line was with the Blues today, and the Crusaders back line from 2005 how more exciting would this competition be in the NZ conference?
Taylorman
Guest
Yep Barry john changed the way NZers approached goal kicking at the local levels. Bee gee eventually changed to the round the corner style but was really only ever a part time kicker. Bevan Wilsons winning performance in the third lions test at Carisbrrok was real the last in tests for NZ. First Mckecknie And Doug Bruce took over then a whole host of kickers...Doug Heffernan, Doug Rolleson, Wayne Smith, Dean's then through to Fox etc ...so for Auckland Watt was really the end of an era in that respect.
Super-Human
Guest
Fullback: Shannon Paku (Wellington), Malili Muliaina. Wing: Doug Howlett, Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Northland), Joe Rokocoko. Midfield backs: Jason Shoemark (Northland), Rico Gear, Sam Tuitupou, Lee Stensness. First five-eighth: Carlos Spencer, Orene Ai'i. Halfback: Steve Devine, David Gibson. Loose forwards: Xavier Rush, Ron Cribb, Daniel Braid, Justin Collins, Angus MacDonald. Locks: Bradley Mika, Ali Williams, Troy Flavell (North Harbour), Vula Maimuri (Northland). Props: Kees Meeuws, Deacon Manu, Nick White, Tony Woodcock. Hookers: Keven Mealamu, Derren Witcombe (Northland). 2003 Blues squad. Greatest backline of all time, that includes international sides.
Super-Human
Guest
2003 Blues, greatest backline in Rugby history. That includes all international sides. Smoking Joe, Howlett and Caucau. Those three were legendary. We also had Rico Gear and Mils. Not to mention the best attacking first five the world ever saw - King Carlos, with Devine feeding him. No greater backline. Speed and skill. If that backline was on the Blues today, they would still tear up and Kirwin would manage to keep his job.
winston
Guest
2002 Crusaders no losses end of story
Taylorman
Guest
Yep Sheek big smoke or not, the game is so important in the non city areas. In playing my later years at Weymouth, which happened to be lomus first club we played a places like Puni, Te Kauwhata, Onewhero, Drury and although you're not going to get All Blacks from those clubs every year those guys were just as hard, just as knowledgeable about the finer points of the game. Sure the Puni boys carried an obvious amount of the potatoes that the area is known for but get em round the table during a test match and these guys know their stuff. I don't buy the big smoke thing as you suggest it because the only difference is focus, priority...all the things that go with professionalism, but take away our many clubs that toil away in the farms and rural spots and you rip the heart out of our game for these are where the most loyal, hard core, genuine rugby followers you will find on the planet.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
OB, talking about cups was only metaphorically speaking. Blues do not need to win but they must show marked improvement ... if they made the finals even, I'll do a happy dance.
Ryan
Guest
I just pee'd in my pants a little bit after reading this Wal :-)
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Hi Ryan, point taken, in fact I my first home was in Mairangi Bay before I sold and move to Epsom and that was back in the seventies... North Shore was a city in its own right even then.
Ryan
Guest
I think you will find it is called North Harbour RT, no one ever refers to the Shore as the 'Northern Suburbs', Up until the creation of the super city North Shore was a city in it's own right. As the NZ teams did away with the city monikers years ago it is pure laziness to keep referring to them as anything other than their actual names which are as below and the major provinces which make up their region. BLUES - Northland, North Harbour and Auckland CHIEFS - Counties Manukau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and current ITM Cup Premiers TARANAKI 2014 HURRICANES - Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, Wellington CANTERBURY - Tasman ITM premiership Runners up 2014, Canterbury HIGHLANDERS - Otago and Southland All of the above franchise have many smaller unions associated with them as well. Heartland Teams BLUES - CHIEFS - Thames Valley and King Country HURRICANES - Wanganui, Wairarapa, Horowhenua-Kapiti (Spencer was discovered playing for Horowhenua), East Coast, Poverty Pay CANTERBURY - Buller, West Coast, Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury HIGHLANDERS - North Otago
Let The One King Rule
Guest
2002 Crusaders hands down. Unbeaten season, over 30 points in every game, and a record, humiliating reaming of the number 2 team say it all. They were literally unrivaled during the 2002 season.
DaniE
Roar Guru
Yeah I just rethought my years... The 90s felt like yesterday yet so far away