1
The weirdest records in the Super Rugby record book
Jamie Wall picks out some anomalies in the record books after 21 seasons of Super Rugby.
ADVERTISEMENT
Seeing names like Doug Howlett and Joe Roff atop the all-time and season try scoring lists comes as no surprise – after all, they went on to have long and distinguished international careers. But what the guy who scored 50 points in a game? Or a match with an aggregate of 137 points? Here’s a look at a few of the weirder Super Rugby records.
Most points in a match: Gavin Lawless (50, vs Highlanders, Kings Park, 1997)
The Sharks were blessed with some real talent in the early stages of Super Rugby, especially at fullback. Gavin Lawless made his first ever game for the side count when he knocked up Super Rugby’s only individual half-century against the Highlanders in 1997. Lawless’ four tries in the game are still tied for most all-time too. Despite this record-breaking start, his career never kicked on in pro rugby – instead, he moved to Australia to eventually become the head of an energy management consulting firm. Judging by this interview, he enjoys talking about that far more than the day he set a Super Rugby record.
Highest aggregate points in a game: 137 (Chiefs 72 Lions 65, Ellis Park, 2010)
No, they didn’t decide to play basketball instead of rugby. In 2010, the Chiefs and Lions combined for the one game that sums up what every Northern Hemisphere stooge thinks is wrong with Super Rugby: 137 points, 18 tries, hattricks to players on either side and distinct aversion to defence were all on display at Ellis Park. Both teams probably had a lot of uncomfortable silences behind their own posts – surely by the 8th time each both captains would’ve run out of things to say. Lions skipper Cobus Grobelaar was quoted post-match, saying “our one-on-one tackling let us down a bit.” No shit!
[rugbypass-ad-banner id=”1473723684″]
2001 and 2006 season top try scorers: Aseia Tuilevu and Lome Fa’atau
One of the reasons New Zealand has dominated the era of pro rugby is the fact that you have to play in New Zealand to be eligible for the All Blacks. Which makes Fijian Tuilevu and Samoan Fa’atau’s season-topping try-scoring feats in 2001 and 2006 pretty remarkable, when you consider the amount of decent talent they had to keep out to even make the Highlanders and Hurricanes squads.
ADVERTISEMENT
Worst season points differential: -402 (Kings, 2016)
Picking on the Kings for being crap is about as easy as watching your money disappear at Eden Park, but given they are likely facing the chop from the competition (again) at the end of this season it’s only fair to acknowledge the only record they’re ever likely to have. One bright spot: their awful record in 2016 wasn’t quite bad enough to give them the wooden spoon, that honour went to the Sunwolves.
Most points in a match (team): Crusaders 96 Waratahs 19 (Lancaster Park, 2002)
OK, so this one isn’t particularly obscure – it’s an often-replayed highlight reel in New Zealand. What people may not remember, however, is that this wasn’t the mismatch on paper that it ended up being on the field. Widely tipped to be a preview of the final, this match took place between the top two sides in the competition in the final week of the regular season. The Crusaders were unbeaten going in, but the Tahs were stacked with Wallabies (who were actually good back then – 2002 was the last year they’d hold the Bledisloe Cup) and sat second on the table. The resulting demolition was completely unforeseen by even the most one-eyed Cantabrian (there’s no shortage of them) could envisage. It effectively wrecked the Waratahs’ finals chances, and they were thrashed 51-10 on their own home ground by the Brumbies in the semifinal the following weekend.
Comments on RugbyPass
The best outside centre in the world at one point. He will be greatly missed.
2 Go to commentsYip his great for the big moments when needed as a safa really enjoy watching him
4 Go to commentsOne that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
3 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
114 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
2 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
3 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
3 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
114 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
3 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
4 Go to comments