The 2006 Super 14 season started on 10 February 2006. The Grand Final was held on 27 May 2006. Super 14 is a provincial rugby union competition with 14 teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. This season was the first of the expansion, which saw two new teams, the Western Force and the Cheetahs, join the Super 12/14. The addition of two new teams led to the name change from the Super 12. It was also the first year for a new Super 14 trophy.
The season saw the first joint commercial by the three SANZAR unions since 1996. The commercial was filmed in Ukraine and is set in a laundromat. The ad was attempting to draw interest, with the motto More teams, more games and more excitement at the end of the commercial. One player from each of the 14 teams was present, except for the Waratahs. A local extra named "Ouri" filled the role of Mat Rogers who injured his back in a test match for the Wallabies against .
By the end of round twelve, critics began speculating that the pre-season favourites, the Crusaders, were losing their form after a draw against the winless Western Force and then a shock loss to the Stormers. However they bounced back against the Bulls with a four-try bonus point victory. After a few results fell in their favour they were able to comfortably beat the Brumbies, and finished for the second consecutive season on top of the ladder. The Crusaders won the Super 14 after defeating the Hurricanes in Christchurch in the final, 19–12 in misty conditions. There was 94 matches held over three and a half months, with each team playing one full round robin against the 13 other teams and the playoffs involving two semi-finals and a final. Every team got one bye over the 14 rounds.
Table + Key to colours Top four teams advance to playoffs
TeamPldWDLPFPAPDBPPts 1 Crusaders131111412210+202551 2 Hurricanes131003328226+102747 3 Waratahs13904362192+170945 4 Bulls13715355290+65738 5 Sharks13706361297+641038 6 Brumbies13814326269+57438 7 Chiefs13715325298+27636 8 Blues13607290344−54529 9 Highlanders13607228276−48327 10 Cheetahs13508272367−95727 11 Stormers13418263334−71523 12 Reds13409240320−80622 13 Cats132110220405−185515 14 Force131210223373−150412
South African relegation Originally, the fifth-placed South African side was to be replaced by the Spears, who were initially planned to compete in the 2007 and 2008 competitions. However, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) revisited the decision to admit the Spears, and announced on 19 April 2006 that the Spears would not enter the competition."It is official: Spears shafted" , RugbyRugby.com, 19 April 2006
On 5 August 2006, the High Court of South Africa threw a potential monkey wrench into the 2007 season when it issued its ruling in the Spears' legal challenge to the decision. It ruled that the Spears had a valid contract with SA Rugby, the commercial arm of SARU, to be included in the 2007 and 2008 Super 14. SA Rugby and SARU are expected to appeal the decision. If the Spears win their court challenge, the Lions, the new name for the Cats, will be relegated for 2007 and will play a test match with the lowest South African team on the 2007 ladder, other than the Spears, for a place in the 2008 competition.
On 8 September 2006, the Golden Lions Rugby Union, the company that operates the Cats franchise, announced that the franchise would be known in the future as the Lions.
Results
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Finals
Semi finals
Grand final
FB 15 Leon MacDonaldRW 14 Rico GearOC 13 Casey LaulalaIC 12 Aaron MaugerLW 11 Scott HamiltonFH 10 Dan CarterSH 9 Kevin SenioN8 8 Mose Tuiali'iOF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Reuben ThorneRL 5 Ross FilipoLL 4 Chris JackTP 3 Greg SomervilleHK 2 Corey FlynnLP 1 Wyatt CrockettSubstitutes:HK 16 Tone KopelaniPR 17 Campbell JohnstoneFL 18 Johnny Leo'oFL 19 Tanerau LatimerFH 20 Stephen BrettCE 21 Cameron McIntyreWG 22 Caleb RalphCoach: Robbie Deans FB 15 Isaia ToeavaRW 14 Lome Fa'atauOC 13 Ma'a NonuIC 12 Tana UmagaLW 11 Shannon PakuFH 10 David HolwellSH 9 Piri WeepuN8 8 Rodney So'oialo (c)OF 7 Chris MasoeBF 6 Jerry CollinsRL 5 Jason EatonLL 4 Paul TitoTP 3 Neemia TialataHK 2 Andrew HoreLP 1 John SchwalgerSubstitutions:HK 16 Luke MahoneyPR 17 Joe McDonnellLK 18 Luke AndrewsN8 19 Thomas WaldromSH 20 Brendan HaamiFH 21 Jimmy GopperthCE 22 Tamati EllisonCoach: Colin Cooper
Player statistics
Leading try scorers Top 3 try scorers Pos Name Tries Pld Team 1 Lome Fa'atau 10 14 Hurricanes 2 Stirling Mortlock 9 13 Brumbies 3 Scott Staniforth 9 13 Western Force
Leading point scorers Top 3 overall point scorers Pos Name Points Pld Team 1 Dan Carter 221 14 Crusaders 2 Peter Hewat 191 14 Waratahs 3 Stephen Donald 133 13 Chiefs
References