Here's some Super Rugby final fast facts

Sat, Aug 5, 2017, 9:00 AM
AFP
by AFP
After 19 rounds and 141 games it all comes down to this. Can the Lions tame the Crusaders at Ellis Park to claim the Super Rugby championship. Here's a preview of the decider with Wallabies fan favourite Matt Dunning.

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  

 

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