Here are five Super Rugby finals facts before the 2017 title decider between the Lions and Crusaders in Johannesburg on Saturday.
1. The Crusaders from south island city of Christchurch have appeared in a record 11 finals since Super Rugby was launched in 1996, winning seven and losing four.
2. The clash with the Johannesburg-based Lions, who they beat in eight of 11 previous meetings, will be their first title decider against South African opponents.
3. Lions hope to avoid becoming only the second side after the Crusaders to lose successive finals, having been beaten by the Hurricanes in Wellington last season.
4. Prop Wyatt Crockett and No. 8 Kieran Read are the only current Crusaders who helped defeat the NSW Waratahs in the 2008 final, the last of their seven final victories.
5. New Zealand teams have won three of four finals against South Africa opponents, but Waikato Chiefs were on the wrong end of a 61-17 thrashing by Northern Bulls in the 2009 decider.
HEAD TO HEAD
1996
At Johannesburg
Lions 55 Crusaders 23
1997
At Christchurch
Crusaders 23 Lions 0
2007
At Johannesburg
Lions 9 Crusaders 3
2008
At Christchurch
Crusaders 31 Lions 6
2009
At Johannesburg
Lions 20 Crusaders 32
2010
At Christchurch
Crusaders 46 Lions 19
2012
At Johannesburg
Lions 13 Crusaders 23
2014
At Johannesburg
Lions 7 Crusaders 28
2015
At Christchurch
Crusaders 34 Lions 6
2016
(Regular season)
At Johannesburg
Lions 37 Crusaders 43
(Quarter-final)
At Johannesburg
Lions 42 Crusaders 25
Summary
Crusaders 8 victories
Lions 3 victories
