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South African Super rugby semifinalists

Wed, 19 May 2010 11:24

Since 1996 South African teams have played in 14 semifinals. Five of those semifinals have been in South Africa. Of those five the South African teams have lost just once - that bizarre affair in 1999.

On one occasion a South African team at home played against another South African team. That was in 2001. On the other four occasions they played against New Zealand sides.

It was a big occasion in 1999 when for the first time a South African team would play in a home semi. for the Stormers had come second on the log with the Highlanders behind them. instead of rejoicing in the achievement, the Stormers collapsed into a tawdry situation.

It was the only time, prior to 2010, that Newlands would host a home semifinal in Super rugby. They had come second on the log with the same match points as the Queensland Reds but with a worse points' difference. In fact they could have been in a stronger position. In their last match they lost at Newlands to the Cats who were second last on the log. In their first match they had smashed the Bulls in Pretoria and in their last league match they lost to the Cats at Newlands. It did not augur well for the next match.

They lost to the Cats on 15 May and the semifinal was in 22 May. Life was comfortable. They had been playing at Newlands from 3 April. They then made life uncomfortable for themselves.

It started on the Monday, 17 May when the captain, Corné Krige, went to the Western Province Rugby Union to open negotiations for bonus payments for reaching the semifinal and then possibly the Final. The players were asking for 25% of the gate takings. On the Friday it became public knowledge that there was a dispute between the players and the union, as Andy Marinos, the Stormers' centre who is now a top employee of the South African Rugby Union, suggested the possibility of not playing unless the players' request/demand was met. On the Saturday morning of the match it was big news.

Krige later claimed that there was no intention to strike, which was not how others saw it.

Eventually Raymond Ackerman, boss of Pick 'n Pay and two of his men went to the Vineyard Hotel where the Stormers were staying and walked into a hostile atmosphere. Ackerman, who was used to dealing with trade unions, said that it was the most hostile negotiation he had ever been involved in. Ackerman offered to make up the difference between what the players wanted and the Union was ready to give so that the game could go ahead. The difference was R150 000.

The game went ahead and the Highlanders hammered the Stormers. The Stormers led 11-0 at one stage and then fell apart. It was hard to convince people that the distraction of the negotiations had not spoilt the team's focus, though during the league section the Highlanders had beaten them by more in Dunedin.

The Highlanders went on to lose to the Crusaders in the Final.

South African teams in semifinals

1996:

Natal vs Queensland Reds, 43-25 in Brisbane
Blues vs Northern Transvaal, 48-11 in Auckland

1997:

Blues vs Natal, 55-36 in Auckland

1998:

Crusaders vs Sharks, 36-32 in Christchurch

1999:

Highlanders vs Stormers, 33-18 at Newlands.

2000:

Brumbies vs Cats in Canberra, 28-5

2001:

Sharks vs Cats, 30-12 in Durban

2004:

Crusaders vs Stormers, 27-16 in Christchurch

2005:

Waratahs vs Bulls, 23-13 in Sydney

2006:

Crusaders vs Bulls, 35-15 in Christchurch

2007:

Sharks vs Blues, 34-18 in Durban
Bulls vs Crusaders, 27-12 in Pretoria

That year the Sharks topped the log with the Bulls second.

2008:

Waratahs vs Sharks, 28-13 in Sydney

2009:

Bulls vs Crusaders, 36-23 in Pretoria

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