The top 5 match-winners of Super Rugby finals

07 July 2011 - 08:53 By Sbu H Mjikeliso
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Bryan Habana scores the winning try during the final Super 14 match between The Sharks and Vodacom Bulls held at the Absa Stadium Kings Park in Durban
Bryan Habana scores the winning try during the final Super 14 match between The Sharks and Vodacom Bulls held at the Absa Stadium Kings Park in Durban
Image: Duif du Toit

As the Crusaders and the Reds prepare to do battle in the 2011 Super Rugby final, we look back at the top five match-winners in this competition.

1. Bryan Habana - Bulls 20 Sharks 19, 2007

This encounter will always be remembered by the Sharks fans as the day Habana stole the Super 14 title for the Bulls. Substitute lock Albert van den Berg scored a try for the hosts with two minutes left of the game, ‘the fat lady’ has cleared her throat. However a young François Steyn missed an easy conversion, which would’ve put the Sharks eight points clear. After the restart, and across the final hooter, the Bulls mounted an attack that seemed to go on forever, until, to the delight of the away fans, Habana weaved his way through the Sharks defence to dive over for the score that took them to within a point. Derrick Hougaard slotted the conversion for the historic win.

2. Mark Gerrard – Brumbies 47 Crusaders 38, 2004

The Brumbies were explosive in this final and the fourth minute try by Mark Gerrard signalled their intent. 19 minutes into the encounter and the hosts were 33-0 up with Gerrard scoring his second of the match after winning a chase from a George Smith chip-kick. Two minutes into the second half Gerrard out-ran Crusaders Ben Blair from a Stephen Larkham kick though. “Big games are about taking your chances. We took everything,” Brumbies coach David Nucifora said after the game.

3. Daniel Carter – Crusaders 20 Waratahs 12, 2008

It was Robbie Deans’ last game in charge of the Crusaders as he was bound for the Wallabies top job. The Crusaders were out-scored two Lachie Turner tries to one and were 12-11 behind at halftime. But the boot of Daniel Carter shone through in a game that was a defence spectacle. Carter painstakingly slotted four penalties and a drop goal that took the game away from the Waratahs, who failed to trouble the scoreboard in the second half.

4. Carlos Spencer – Blues 21 Crusaders 17, 2003

He dropped a pass in the Blues’ in-goal area that resulted in a try by Crusaders hooker Mark Hammett. Other than that unfortunate moment he was sublime. This was his breakthrough season where he top scored 143 points throughout the whole Super 12 competition. It was his flair however that earned him hero status in this final. He matched Andrew Mehrtens for tactical kicking and distributed like a machine. He contributed four penalties and a conversion to the score line but was majestic in open play.

5. Andrew Mehrtens – Crusaders 20 Brumbies 19, 2000

The Brumbies were in front by two points with three minutes remaining on the clock. Then referee Andre Watson awarded the Crusaders a penalty from 40 metres out. A composed Mehrtens duly slotted the penalty, handing the Crusaders their third Super 12 title in the process.

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