Super 14 Rugby Final Bulls Host Chiefs
South Africa v New Zealand Showdown as top Seeds Meet in Pretoria
May 27, 2009
Kiwi side the Chiefs overcame local rivals the Hurricanes to earn a trip to their first Super 14 rugby final. Waiting for them will be the Bulls, who headed the Super 14 table during the regular season. The Bulls overturned a 7-20 deficit against the Crusaders, to run out 36-23 winners.
Super 14 Rugby Chiefs v Hurricanes
The Chiefs held on to win 14-10 in the New Zealand derby with the Hurricanes. Despite both teams having a reputation as being among the best attacking teams in the Super 14, defences were on top in the first half and scoring opportunities were few and far between.
It was the ‘Canes who broke the deadlock when Super 14’s leading try scorer Ma’a Nonu picked up an offload from Flanker Victor Vito. Vito made ground in the Chief’s 22 and when he was hauled down short of the line, he flicked the scoring pass to Nonu. Peri Wepu converted to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.
The home team struck back on the half hour when winger Luaki went around the Hurricanes full back Cory Jane, handed off All Black Rodney So’oialo and finished a great solo try which was converted to level the scores.
Defences reasserted themselves in the second half until a loose kick from the Hurricanes was fielded by Chief’s captain Muliaina who fed Sivivatu and when the flying winger was eventually stopped after a weaving forty yard run, two quick passes gave it back to Muliaina who scored under the posts.
Weepu gave the Hurricanes some hope with a penalty to make the score 14-10, but with the crowd desperately trying to see the play as the Hamilton fog swept in, the home team held on.
Super 14 Rugby Bulls v Crusaders
When the Crusaders cruised to an early thirteen point lead, this semi final looked all over. Habana’s opening try was more than equalled by the New Zealanders who scored two converted tries through Whitelock and Read and two penalties gave them a 20 points to 7 advantage.
The Bulls turned the game around with an astonishing blitz in the 10 minutes before half time. First winger Ndungane squeezed in at the corner and then No. 8 Perry Spies showed an incredible burst of speed scoring a try from half way that Habana would have been proud of. Outside half Steyn added two drop goals and after looking out of the tournament, the Bulls led at half time.
Steyn Drop Goals are a Super Rugby Record
The second half was less eventful as both teams tired after the frenetic pace of the first period but Steyn kept the scoreboard ticking over with two more drop goals, including one towering effort from half way to give him a super rugby record of four drops in one game. He also hit the post with another. These, along with three conversions and a penalty gave him a personal points tally of 21 in the 36-23 victory. The Springbok selectors will be looking at him very careful given that first choice outside half Ruan Pienar’s fitness for the first British Lions test isn’t guaranteed.
The Bulls will meet the Chiefs at their Loftus Versfeld ground in Pretoria in the Super Rugby final on Saturday 30th May.
SANZAR have announced the expansion of the Super 14 rugby tournament from 2011.
