2007 Super 14 Final
Encyclopedia
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| Home Team | Sharks |
| Away Team | Bulls |
| Date | May 19, 2007 |
| Stadium | ABSA Stadium Kings Park Stadium Kings Park , is a stadium in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in Durban, South Africa, which was originally built in 1891 and extensively renovated in the 1990s... , Durban Durban Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism... |
| TV in South Africa | |
| Network Television network A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small... |
Unknown |
The Final of the 2007 Super 14 season, a provincial rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
competition in the Southern Hemisphere, took place on 19 May 2007 at ABSA Stadium
Kings Park Stadium
Kings Park , is a stadium in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in Durban, South Africa, which was originally built in 1891 and extensively renovated in the 1990s...
in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The match was won by the Bulls 20 points to 19 over their hosts the Sharks. The match had four tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
- two by each team, and the last of which was scored by Bulls' wing Bryan Habana
Bryan Habana
Bryan Gary Habana is a South African rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Western Province in the Currie Cup, the Stormers in Super 14, and the 2007 Rugby World Cup champions Springboks...
in the 82nd minute to give his team the trophy. It was the first Super rugby final to be played in South Africa, as well as the first all-South African final, and the first final with a South African winner.
Road to the Final
The Sharks and Bulls finished the round-robinRound-robin
The term round-robin was originally used to describe a document signed by multiple parties in a circle to make it more difficult to determine the order in which it was signed, thus preventing a ringleader from being identified...
first and second on the Super 14 table respectively. The Crusaders lost to the Chiefs in their last round-robin match (ending a 26-game home winning streak), but managed to secure a bonus point
Rugby union bonus points system
The Rugby union bonus points system is a method of deciding table points from a rugby union match. It was implemented in order to encourage attacking play throughout a match, to discourage repetitive goal-kicking, and to reward teams for "coming close" in losing efforts...
, losing by seven points. The Blues then defeated the Force in Perth to qualify for the semi-finals. The Sharks then went to the top of the table after defeating the Stormers 36-10 in Cape Town. The Bulls then played the Reds in Pretoria, and would be able to finish in second place if they won by a margin of 72 or more. They ended up crushing the Reds by 92-3 — the largest winning margin in Super Rugby history.
The Sharks then hosted the Blues in Durban, and the Bulls hosted the Crusaders in Pretoria. This was the first time both semi-finals had been hosted in South Africa. The Sharks defeated the Blues 34-18 with three tries to two, and the Bulls defeated the Crusaders 27-12 in a try-less match.
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border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> 2007 Super 14 Table Pos Name Pld W D L F A +/- BP Pts 1 Sharks 13 10 0 3 355 214 141 5 45 2 Bulls 13 9 0 4 388 223 165 6 42 3 Crusaders 13 8 0 5 382 235 147 10 42 4 Blues 13 9 0 4 355 235 120 6 42 5 Brumbies 13 9 0 4 234 173 61 4 40 6 Chiefs Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...13 7 1 5 373 321 52 10 40 7 Western Force Western ForceWestern Force is a rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the international Super Rugby competition. They first competed in the 2006 season and finished with the wooden spoon in that year, however their performances greatly improved in 2007. In 2008 they finished in 8th...13 6 1 6 276 282 6 32 8 Hurricanes Hurricanes (Super rugby franchise)The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition...13 6 0 7 247 300 3 27 9 Highlanders Highlanders (Super rugby franchise)The Highlanders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Dunedin that compete in Super Rugby. The franchise represents the North Otago, Otago and Southland provincial Rugby unions. The Highlanders take their name from the Scottish immigrants that helped found the Otago, North...13 5 0 8 235 301 7 27 10 Stormers StormersThe Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...13 6 0 7 249 326 3 27 11 Cheetahs Central CheetahsThe Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...13 4 1 8 265 342 4 22 12 Lions 13 5 0 8 175 284 2 22 13 Waratahs 13 3 1 9 266 317 7 21 14 Reds Queensland RedsThe Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...13 2 0 11 201 438 3 11
First half
Two minutes into the first half Bulls' wing Brian Habana tackled Sharks' fullback Percy MontgomeryPercy Montgomery
Percival Colin "Percy" Montgomery is a retired South African rugby union player...
in the air as he fielded a bomb. Montgomery fell on his head and Habana was subsequently penalized by referee Steve Walsh - he was considered lucky not to be issued a yellow card for such a dangerous tackle. After eight minutes Sharks' scrum-half Ruan Pienaar
Ruan Pienaar
Ruan Pienaar is a South African rugby union footballer who plays either as a scrum-half or as a fly-half. He joined Ulster for the 2010/2011 Magners League campaign....
tapped and ran from a penalty breaking the Bulls' line and ending up in the Bulls' 22. From the resulting play the Sharks were awarded penalty after JP Nel infringed at the tackle. The penalty was converted by Montgomery to put them 3-0 up.
When the Bulls were awarded a penalty 45 metres out they elected to kick for touch, and from the resulting lineout the Bulls won possession. After two phases Bulls captain Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield is a South African rugby union player. He has played for, and captained the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in the Super 14...
passed the ball to Pierre Spies
Pierre Spies
Pierre Johan Spies is a South African rugby union player. His usual position is number 8 , where he plays for the Vodacom Bulls in the international Super 14 competition. He has represented the Springboks since 2006.He made his debut for the Blue Bulls in 2005 in a match against the Griquas...
who broke through the Sharks line to score a try under the post. The try was converted by Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard is a South African rugby union player who plays for Saracens in England. He normally plays at flyhalf...
to give the Bulls a 7-3 lead after 13 minutes. The Sharks responded five minutes later when a pass from Spies was intercepted by Sharks winger JP Pietersen
JP Pietersen
Jon-Paul Roger "JP" Pietersen is a South African rugby union footballer. He generally plays fullback or wing for the Sharks and the Natal Sharks in the Currie Cup...
who outran three Bulls defenders to score. Montgomery missed the conversion, and after 19 minutes the Sharks led 8-7.
The next score came after the Sharks counter attacked from their own 22 metre line before Butch James
Butch James
Andrew David "Butch" James is a South African rugby union player. He has represented 40 times and was a member of the team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He also played for Bath Rugby in the Aviva Premiership...
attempted a drop goal. He missed but referee Steve Walsh was playing advantage for accidental off-side, and Montgomery kicked the resulting penalty to give the Sharks an 11-7 lead after 29 minutes. Three minutes later Hougaard kicked a penalty for the Bulls to reduce the Sharks lead to 11-10.
Following a Butch James bomb, the Bulls were penalised for being off-side and Montgomery kicked the penalty to extend the Sharks' lead to 14-10. Prior to half time the Bulls were penalised for collapsing a Sharks' maul, but Montgomery missed the penalty attempt. The Sharks went into the second half leading 14-10.
Second half
Early in the second half Bulls flyhalf Hougaard attempted a drop goal but was unsuccessful. Then on 43 minutes he attempted a 53metre penalty but the attempt fell short. Soon after Bulls hooker Gary BothaGary Botha
Gary Botha is a professional rugby union player, who currently plays as a hooker for Stade Toulousain have signed from the Bulls in the Summer of 2011. He also plays for the South African national team...
broke through three Sharks defenders and fed the ball to Pedrie Wannenburg
Pedrie Wannenburg
Pedrie Wannenburg is a South African Rugby Union player who currently plays for Ulster in the RaboDirect Pro12. He previously represented the Bulls in the southern hemisphere Super 14 competition. As of 15 June 2010, he signed a deal with Irish club, Ulster Rugby...
, but the Sharks cover defence prevented him scoring when Steyn forced him out at the corner. Sharks lock Albert van den Berg
Albert van den Berg
Albert van den Berg is a South African rugby union rugby player. In 2010, he signed to play in Japan's Top League for Canon Eagles. His usual position is at lock. He played for the Sharks in the international Super 14 competition...
nearly scored in the 56th minute but was tackled out by Hougaard. Following sustained pressure from the Bulls with pick and goes, their centre Wynand Olivier
Wynand Olivier
Wynand Olivier is a South African rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition. His usual position is at centre, although he has played on the wing in the past.-Career:...
was only prevented from scoring a try due to a James tackle. James was penalised however and Hougaard converted the penalty to narrow the Sharks lead to 14-13 in the 59th minute.
With four minutes remaining Sharks lock Johann Muller won a lineout 25 metres from the Bulls' line. The Sharks then mauled for before it maul collapsed three metres from the Bulls line. After four phases of driving play Van den Berg drove past Danie Rossouw
Danie Rossouw
Danie Rossouw is a South African rugby union footballer who plays as a second row forward. He plays for the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition. Rossouw made his provincinal debut during 1999 for the Blue Bulls in a match against the North Western Province in the Currie Cup competition...
and Derick Kuün to score a try for the Sharks. Steyn then missed the conversion; the Sharks now led 19-13. The Bulls then needed to score a converted try to win the match, and with only a few minutes remaining of regular time they started attacking expansively. In the 79th minute Gary Botha grubber kicked the ball from inside Bulls territory to within the Sharks 22-metre line. François Steyn collected the ball but did not kick out, and instead kicked down field where the ball was collected by Bulls' captain Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield is a South African rugby union player. He has played for, and captained the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in the Super 14...
. The Bulls spread the ball, and went through several phases until it reached winger Bryan Habana near the right touchline. Habana jinked back infield and ran through a gap in the Sharks' defence before scoring a try five metres to right of the goal-posts. The 83rd minute try was then converted by Hougaard to give the Bulls' a 20-19 victory.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | SHARKS: | ||
| FB | 15 | Percy Montgomery Percy Montgomery Percival Colin "Percy" Montgomery is a retired South African rugby union player... |
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| RW | 14 | Francois Steyn François Steyn Francois Steyn is a South African rugby union player, who plays for the South African national team; and Racing Métro 92 in Paris. He was a member of the South African team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup... |
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| OC | 13 | Waylon Murray Waylon Murray Waylon Murray is a current player in a provincial rugby union team, the Lions. He stands 190 cm tall and weighs in at 105 kg and plays the position of centre.-Career:... |
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| IC | 12 | Brad Barritt | |
| LW | 11 | JP Pietersen JP Pietersen Jon-Paul Roger "JP" Pietersen is a South African rugby union footballer. He generally plays fullback or wing for the Sharks and the Natal Sharks in the Currie Cup... |
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| FH | 10 | Butch James Butch James Andrew David "Butch" James is a South African rugby union player. He has represented 40 times and was a member of the team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He also played for Bath Rugby in the Aviva Premiership... |
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| SH | 9 | Ruan Pienaar Ruan Pienaar Ruan Pienaar is a South African rugby union footballer who plays either as a scrum-half or as a fly-half. He joined Ulster for the 2010/2011 Magners League campaign.... |
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| N8 | 8 | Ryan Kankowski Ryan Kankowski Ryan Kankowski is a South African rugby union player, who plays for the Natal Sharks provincially, The Sharks in the Super 14 and he has been capped by the Springboks at international level.... |
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| BF | 7 | AJ Venter AJ Venter AJ Venter is a retired South African rugby union footballer. Who played for the Sharks in the international Super 14 competition, and the Natal Sharks in the domestic Currie Cup competition. Venter has also played for the South African national team, the Springboks.Venter made his debut for South... |
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| OF | 6 | Jacques Botes Jacques Botes Jacques Botes born 28 November 1980 in Johannesburg, South Africa is a rugby union player for the Sharks in the Super 14 competition. He plays as a flanker.-External links:*... |
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| RL | 5 | Johann Muller | |
| LL | 4 | Johan Ackermann Johan Ackermann Johannes Nicolaas "Johan" Ackermann is a recently retired South African rugby union player. A lock, he most recently played Super 14 rugby for the Sharks.... |
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| TP | 3 | BJ Botha BJ Botha Brendon James Botha, better known as BJ Botha is a South African rugby union player. He is a prop for the Irish Province, Munster. He signed for Ulster on Thursday 14 August 2008 on a three year deal, and left the province in May 2011... |
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| HK | 2 | John Smit John Smit John William Smit is the 50th and current captain of the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks. He has played most of his career as a hooker, but played twice for the Springboks off the bench as a prop prior to the South Africa coaching staff's decision to use him as a tighthead... (c Captain (sports) In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field... ) |
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| LP | 1 | Deon Carstens Deon Carstens Pieter-Deon Carstens, better known simply as Deon Carstens, is a South African rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the Stormers in Super Rugby... |
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| Substitutes: | |||
| HK | 16 | Bismarck du Plessis Bismarck du Plessis Bismarck du Plessis is a South African rugby union player, who plays for South Africa internationally, the Natal Sharks in the domestic Currie Cup, and the Sharks in Super Rugby.-Career:... |
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| LP | 17 | Tendai Mtawarira Tendai Mtawarira Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira is a Zimbabwean-born South African rugby union player for the Sharks in the Super Rugby competition. Mtawarira, a prop, is fondly known by friends and fans as "The Beast". Roars of "Beast" are shouted by spectators and fans of the Natal Sharks team whenever Mtawarira... |
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| RL | 18 | Albert van den Berg Albert van den Berg Albert van den Berg is a South African rugby union rugby player. In 2010, he signed to play in Japan's Top League for Canon Eagles. His usual position is at lock. He played for the Sharks in the international Super 14 competition... |
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| N8 | 19 | Warren Britz | |
| BL | 20 | Bob Skinstad | |
| FH | 21 | Rory Kockott Rory Kockott Rory Kockott born 25 June 1986 in East London, South Africa is a rugby union player and attended Selborne College. He currently plays for Castres Olympique after signing from the Sharks in the Super 14 competition. He plays as a scrumhalf.-External links:*... |
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| OC | 22 | Adrian Jacobs Adrian Jacobs Adrian Jacobs is a South African rugby union player who plays for the Natal Sharks provincially and The Sharks in the Super 14. He predominantly plays Centre, but also plays Wing and even Fullback for The Sharks. Adi usually plays off the bench... |
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| Coach: | |||
 Dick Muir |
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Akona Ndungane
Akona Zilindlovu Ndungane is a South African rugby union footballer. His usual position is on the wing, though he can play in the centres. He plays for the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup...
Wynand Olivier
Wynand Olivier is a South African rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition. His usual position is at centre, although he has played on the wing in the past.-Career:...
Bryan Habana
Bryan Gary Habana is a South African rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Western Province in the Currie Cup, the Stormers in Super 14, and the 2007 Rugby World Cup champions Springboks...
Derick Hougaard
Derick Hougaard is a South African rugby union player who plays for Saracens in England. He normally plays at flyhalf...
Fourie du Preez
Petrus Fourie du Preez is a rugby union player. His position of choice is scrum half. Du Preez plays for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup competition in South Africa and the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition...
Pierre Spies
Pierre Johan Spies is a South African rugby union player. His usual position is number 8 , where he plays for the Vodacom Bulls in the international Super 14 competition. He has represented the Springboks since 2006.He made his debut for the Blue Bulls in 2005 in a match against the Griquas...
Wikus van Heerden
Wikus van Heerden is a South African rugby union footballer who plays as a Flanker, currently signed to play for the Lions in the Super 14, and the Golden Lions in the national Curriecup competition. Van Heerden has also played for the national team, the Springboks...
Pedrie Wannenburg
Pedrie Wannenburg is a South African Rugby Union player who currently plays for Ulster in the RaboDirect Pro12. He previously represented the Bulls in the southern hemisphere Super 14 competition. As of 15 June 2010, he signed a deal with Irish club, Ulster Rugby...
Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield is a South African rugby union player. He has played for, and captained the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in the Super 14...
(c
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
)
Bakkies Botha
John Philip "Bakkies" Botha, is a South African rugby union player who plays lock for the Springboks. He was a member of the national team that won the Rugby World Cup in 2007 in addition to winning two Tri-Nations titles in 2004 and 2009...
Gary Botha
Gary Botha is a professional rugby union player, who currently plays as a hooker for Stade Toulousain have signed from the Bulls in the Summer of 2011. He also plays for the South African national team...
Gurthro Steenkamp
Gurthrö Garth Steenkamp is a South African Rugby union player. He plays loosehead prop. Steenkamp currently plays for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls in the Super 14...
Jaco Engels
Jaco Engels is a Namibian rugby union player playing for the Eastern Province Kings.He has previously played for the Leopards, Boland Cavaliers and Blue Bulls in South Africa's Currie Cup. He has also played Super Rugby with the Bulls...
Danie Rossouw
Danie Rossouw is a South African rugby union footballer who plays as a second row forward. He plays for the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition. Rossouw made his provincinal debut during 1999 for the Blue Bulls in a match against the North Western Province in the Currie Cup competition...
Morne Steyn
Morné Steyn is a South African rugby union player who plays at the Flyhalf position.He plays at number 10 for the Springboks internationally, as well as for the Bulls in the Super 14 and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup...
Jaco van der Westhuyzen
Jaco van der Westhuyzen is a South African rugby union footballer who plays fly-half or fullback.-Early life:...
Heyneke MeyerHeyneke Meyer
Heyneke Meyer is a rugby union coach, most recently Head Coach at Leicester Tigers in the Guinness Premiership. He is the former coach of the Blue Bulls in the Super 14 competition....
Man of the Match: Victor Matfield Victor Matfield Victor Matfield is a South African rugby union player. He has played for, and captained the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in the Super 14... (Bulls) Touch judges:  Lyndon Bray Bryce LawrenceBryce Lawrence Bryce Lawrence is a professional international rugby union referee from the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.Originally a school headmaster, Lawrence took up refereeing in 1994, following in footsteps of his father, Keith Lawrence, who had been an international rugby union referee from 1985 to 1991... Television match official: Kelvin DeakerKelvin Deaker Kelvin Deaker is a former New Zealand rugby union international referee and member of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union, who has now retired from all refereeing. Deaker took up refereeing in 1991, and refereed his first representative match in 1996, when he took charge of a National Provincial... Assessor: Tappe Henning |