Vodacom Super 14 Preview – The Final |
History and stats make the Vodacom Bulls favourites to win their third Vodacom Super Rugby title in four years when they host the Vodacom Stormers in the final of the 2010 tournament at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto at 17h00 on Saturday.
Among the distinctions held by the Vodacom Bulls are the fact that the defending champions will be aiming to become the third Super Rugby franchise to win back-to-back titles after claiming their second Super Rugby trophy last season following their 61-17 victory over the Chiefs in Pretoria. Only the Crusaders (2005, 2006 and 1998, 1999, 2000) and Blues (1996, 1997) have ever won consecutive competitions.
Other factors in their favour are:
• This is the Vodacom Bulls’ third Vodacom Super 14 final in four years – the Stormers are appearing in their first
• Nine Vodacom Bulls players – Wynand Olivier, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pedrie Wannenburg, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Derick Kuün, Gurthrö Steenkamp and Pierre Spies – will be playing in their third Vodacom Super 14 final.
• Zane Kirchner, Jaco Pretorius, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Werner Kruger and Chiliboy Ralepelle represented the Pretoria franchise during last year’s final.
• Jaco van der Westhuizen and Gary Botha were part of the successful Vodacom Bulls squad that competed in the 2007 Vodacom Super 14 at The Absa Stadium Durban. (Francois Hougaard and Gerhard van den Heever are the only Vodacom Bulls players selected in their starting line up who have not played in a Vodacom Super 14 final).
• The only Stormers to have appeared in a major final are Bryan Habana, twice with the Bulls in Vodacom Super 14, and with Stormers team-mates Schalk Burger and Jaque Fourie in a Rugby World Cup final.
• The Bulls have won five of the last six meeting between the two teams – the exception being the final round meeting two weeks ago when the Bulls fielded a team showing 14 changes from the previous week
Other statistics to note are:
• Matfield will lead the Vodacom Bulls for a record 60th time and could join former Crusaders captain Todd Blackadder and Richie McCaw as the most successful Super Rugby captains of all time should the Vodacom Bulls win by leading a team to the title on three occasions.
• The Vodacom Stormers have the best defensive record in the competition, conceding only 17 tries
• The Vodacom Bulls have the best attacking record in the competition, having scored 50 tries.
• The Vodacom Stormers have the best disciplinary record in the competition having received only one yellow card
• The defending champions have set a new South African record for the most points scored in a Super Rugby competition
• This will be the sixth occasion in the history of Super Rugby where a final will be contested in a local derby.
• It is the second time two South African franchises compete in a Vodacom Super Rugby final
• New Zealand sides have battled it out in four other finales. Two Australian teams have never competed in the final.
• This will be only the third occasion on which a New Zealand team have not competed for the coveted trophy.
• SARU referee Craig Joubert will handle his 50th Super Rugby game
The teams are:
Vodacom Bulls – Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van den Heever, Jaco Pretorius, Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield (c), Danie Rossouw, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha, Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Reserves: Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Flip van der Merwe, Derick Kuün, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Pedrie Wannenburg.
Coach: Frans Ludeke.
Vodacom Stormers – Joe Pietersen, Gio Aplon, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana, Peter Grant, Dewald Duvenhage, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Andries Bekker, Adriaan Fondse, Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg, Wikus Blaauw.
Reserves: Deon Fourie, JC Kritzinger, Anton van Zyl, Pieter Louw, Ricky Januarie, Willem de Waal, Tim Whitehead.
Coach: Allister Coetzee.
Vodacom Bulls v Vodacom Stormers
Saturday, 29 May 2010. Kick off: 17h00
Venue: Orlando Stadium, Soweto
Referee: Craig Joubert (SARU) – 50th Super Rugby game
Assistant Referees: Cobus Wessels (AR1), Christie du Preez (AR2)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (SARU)
Reserve Referee: Mark Lawrence (SARU)
Head to Head: Vodacom Bulls v Vodacom Stormers
P: 1 W: 1 L: 0 D: 0 PF: 35 PA: 7 [Northern Transvaal v WP] 1996
P: 13 W: 5 L: 7 D: 1 PF: 348 PA: 306 [Bulls v Stormers] 1998-2009
P: 14 W: 6 L: 7 D: 1 PF: 383 PA: 313 [Combined] 1996-2009
10-May-96 Northern Transvaal 35 Western Province 7 Cape Town
14-Mar-98 Bulls 18 Stormers 35 Cape Town
27-Feb-99 Bulls 19 Stormers 42 Pretoria
11-Mar-00 Bulls 19 Stormers 19 Cape Town
05-May-01 Bulls 23 Stormers 34 Pretoria
11-May-02 Bulls 27 Stormers 31 Cape Town
05-Apr-03 Bulls 24 Stormers 27 Pretoria
27-Mar-04 Bulls 11 Stormers 25 Cape Town
14-May-05 Bulls 75 Stormers 14 Pretoria
13-May-06 Bulls 43 Stormers 10 Cape Town
14-Apr-07 Bulls 49 Stormers 12 Pretoria
16-Feb-08 Bulls 16 Stormers 9 Cape Town
07-Mar-09 Bulls 14 Stormers 10 Pretoria
15-May-10 Bulls 10 Stormers 38 Cape Town
Vodacom Bulls’ recent form at home:
• The defending champions, who will be playing in their second Vodacom Super 14 match in Soweto, have been undefeated at their traditional home – Loftus Versfeld for the last two seasons. They defeated the Crusaders 39-24 in last weekend’s semi-final match at the Orlando Stadium.
• The Vodacom Bulls last conceded a home defeat back in 2008 when they suffered a 22-50 loss against the Hurricanes.
Vodacom Bulls’ road to the Vodacom Super 14 Final:
Date Opponent Result Score Venue
Feb 12 Vodacom Cheetahs W 51-34 Bloemfontein
Feb 20 Brumbies W 50-32 Pretoria
Feb 27 Waratahs W 48-38 Pretoria
Mar 13 Highlanders W 50-35 Pretoria
Mar 19 Hurricanes W 19-18 Pretoria
Mar 27 Western Force W 28-15 Perth
April 03 Blues L 17-32 Auckland
April 09 Chiefs W 33-19 Hamilton
April 17 Reds L 12-19 Brisbane
April 24 Auto & General Lions W 51-11 Pretoria
May 01 The Sharks W 27-19 Pretoria
May 07 Crusaders W 40-35 Pretoria
May 15 Vodacom Stormers L 10-38 Cape Town
May22 Crusaders (SF) W 39-24 Soweto
Vodacom Stormers’ recent form on the road:
• The Cape franchise recorded three away victories in this season’s competition against the Auto & General Lions (26-13), Chiefs (49-15) and the Blues (33-21).
• The Vodacom Stormers have also conceded three away defeats against the Western Force (15-16), Reds (13-16) and The Sharks (14-20) in Durban.
Vodacom Stormers’ road to the Vodacom Super 14 Final:
Date Opponent Result Score Venue
Feb 13 Auto & General Lions W 26-13 Johannesburg
Feb 20 Waratahs W 27-06 Cape Town
Feb 26 Brumbies L 17-19 Cape Town
Mar 06 Highlanders W 33-00 Cape Town
Mar 13 Hurricanes W 37-13 Cape Town
Mar 20 Vodacom Cheetahs W 21-08 Cape Town
April 02 Western Force L 15-16 Perth
April 10 Blues W 33-21 Auckland
April 16 Chiefs W 49-15 Hamilton
April 23 Reds L 13-16 Brisbane
April 30 Crusaders W 42-14 Cape Town
May 08 Sharks L 14-20 Durban
May 15 Vodacom Bulls W 38-10 Cape Town
May 22 Waratahs (SF) W 25-6 Cape Town
Player/match stats:
• The Vodacom Bulls will be competing in their third Vodacom Super 14 final in four years while the Vodacom Stormers will be making their Super Rugby final debut on Saturday.
• The defending champions have yet to concede defeat in a Vodacom Super 14 final.
• Nine Vodacom Bulls players – Wynand Olivier, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pedrie Wannenburg, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Derick Kuün, Gurthrö Steenkamp and Pierre Spies will be playing in their third Vodacom Super 14 final.
• Zane Kirchner, Jaco Pretorius, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Werner Kruger and Chiliboy Ralepelle represented the Pretoria franchise during last year’s final.
• Jaco van der Westhuizen and Gary Botha were part of the successful Vodacom Bulls squad that competed in the 2007 Vodacom Super 14 at The Absa Stadium Durban.
• Matfield made his first class debut for the Blue Bulls in 1997 at the age of 19.
• The only Vodacom Bulls players selected in their starting line up who have not played in a Vodacom Super 14 final are wingers Francois Hougaard and Gerhard van den Heever.
• Wannenburg is the only Vodacom Bulls player that has competed in all Vodacom Super 14 matches this season.
• Scrumhalf Du Preez will earn his 99th Super Rugby cap for the Pretoria franchise on Saturday. He represented the SA Under-21s during 2002-2003 after earning his SA Under-19 colours in 2001.
• Vodacom Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn is currently SA’s Super Rugby record holder for most points in a career – 737.
• Steyn is also the leading points’ scorer in the 2010 competition with 243.
• Bryan Habana is the only Vodacom Stormers player who has competed in a Vodacom Super 14 final. He played in 2007 final for the Vodacom Bulls and scored the match-winning try. Habana also played in 2009 final for the Pretoria franchise.
• Peter Grants currently holds the Vodacom Stormers record for most points scored in a career – 526. He represented the SA Schools and the Sharks Under-18 side at the 2002 Coca-Cola Craven Week.
• Andries Bekker, who is the tallest player in the Vodacom Super 14 at 2.08 metres, made his SA Under-21 debut in 2003.
• Francois Louw, who will be making his Springbok debut against Wales next month, is the grandson of former Bok and Western Province President Jan Pickard.
• Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has taken charge of the Pretoria franchise for the last three seasons and has a winning record of 69 percent.
• Former Springbok assistant coach Allister Coetzee has a 71 percent winning record in his first year in charge of the Vodacom Stormers.
• Referee Craig Joubert will handle his 50th Super Rugby game and his first final on Saturday at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
Super Rugby history:
Vodacom Bulls P: 183 W: 83 L: 93 D: 7 PF: 4735 PA: 5156 TF: 516 TA: 604
Vodacom Stormers P: 167 W: 78 L: 84 D: 5 PF: 3871 PA: 4124 TF: 417 TA: 461
Vodacom Super 14 Final – Additional stats
Vodacom Super Rugby Final Winners:
1996 Auckland Blues
1997 Auckland Blues
1998 Canterbury Crusaders
1999 Canterbury Crusaders
2000 Canterbury Crusaders
2001 ACT Brumbies
2002 Canterbury Crusaders
2003 Auckland Blues
2004 ACT Brumbies
2005 Crusaders
2006 Crusaders
2007 Vodacom Bulls
2008 Crusaders
2009 Vodacom Bulls
Results of Vodacom Super Rugby Finals:
Year Hosts Opponents City
1996 Auckland Blues 45 Natal 21 Auckland
1997 Auckland Blues 23 ACT Brumbies 7 Auckland
1998 Canterbury Crusaders 20 Auckland Blues 13 Auckland
1999 Canterbury Crusaders 24 Otago Highlanders 19 Dunedin
2000 Canterbury Crusaders 20 ACT Brumbies 19 Canberra
2001 ACT Brumbies 36 Sharks 6 Canberra
2002 Canterbury Crusaders 31 ACT Brumbies 13 Christchurch
2003 Auckland Blues 21 Canterbury Crusaders 17 Auckland
2004 ACT Brumbies 47 Canterbury Crusaders 38 Canberra
2005 Crusaders 35 Waratahs 25 Christchurch
2006 Crusaders 19 Hurricanes 12 Christchurch
2007 Sharks 19 Vodacom Bulls 20 Durban
2008 Crusaders 20 Waratahs 12 Christchurch
2009 Vodacom Bulls 61 Chiefs 17 Pretoria
Most points in a Super Rugby Final:
Year Fixture City
2009 Bulls beat Chiefs 61-17 Pretoria
2004 Brumbies beat Crusaders 47-38 Canberra
1996 Blues beat Natal 45-21 Auckland
2004 Crusaders lost to brumbies 38-47 Canberra
2001 Brumbies beat Sharks 36-6 Canberra
2005 Crusaders beat Waratahs 35-25 Christchurch
2002 Crusaders beat Brumbies 31-13 Christchurch
Super Rugby winning teams:
Team Wins Runner-up
Crusaders 7 2
Blues 3 1
Brumbies 2 3
Vodacom Bulls 2 0
The Sharks 0 3
Waratahs 0 2
Super Rugby winning captains:
Captain Team
Todd Blackadder Crusaders (1998, 1999, 2000)
Richie McCaw Crusaders (2005, 2006, 2008)
Zinzan Brooke Blues (1996, 1997)
Victor Matfield Vodacom Bulls (2007, 2009)
George Gregan Brumbies (2001)
Reuben Thorne Crusaders (2002)
Xavier Rush Blues (2003)
Stirling Mortlock Brumbies (2004)
Super Rugby winning coaches:
Coach Achievements
Robbie Deans (5) Crusaders (2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008)
Graham Henry (2) Blues (1996, 1997)
Wayne Smith (2) Crusaders (1998, 1999)
Eddie Jones (1) Brumbies (2001)
Peter Sloane (1) Blues (2003)
David Nucifora (1) Brumbies (2004)
Heyneke Meyer (1) Vodacom Bulls (2007)
Frans Ludeke (1) Vodacom Bulls (2009)
Referees officiating Super Rugby Finals:
Referee Year
André Watson (5) 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004
Jonathan Kaplan (3) 2005, 2006, 2009
Paddy O'Brien (2) 1998, 2001
Wayne Erickson (1) 1996
Tappe Henning (1) 1997
Steve Walsh (1) 2007
Mark Lawrence (1) 2008
Craig Joubert (1) 2010
Issued by SARU Communications |
Super Rugby Player Profiles
|
