# 2001 Super 12 season

The 2001 Super 12 season was the sixth season of the Super 12, an annual rugby union competition contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2001, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi finals, with the first placed team playing the fourth and the second placed team playing the third. The winner of each semi final qualified for the final, which was contested by the ACT Brumbies and the Coastal Sharks at Bruce Stadium, Canberra. The ACT Brumbies won 36–6 to win their first Super 12 title, and became the first Super Rugby champions from outside New Zealand. It was the Brumbies first Grand Final appearance since 1997, this was the first year where a New Zealand team failed to make the playoffs.

## Table

Key to colours :
* Top four teams advance to playoffs
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts |
| 1 | Brumbies | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 348 | 204 | +144 | 8 | 40 |
| 2 | Sharks | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 322 | 246 | +76 | 6 | 38 |
| 3 | Cats | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 285 | 244 | +41 | 6 | 34 |
| 4 | Reds | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 300 | 277 | +33 | 8 | 32 |
| 5 | Highlanders | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 284 | 295 | −11 | 5 | 29 |
| 6 | Chiefs | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 301 | 330 | −29 | 4 | 28 |
| 7 | Stormers | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 278 | 285 | −7 | 6 | 26 |
| 8 | Waratahs | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 306 | 302 | +4 | 5 | 25 |
| 9 | Hurricanes | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 291 | 316 | −25 | 5 | 25 |
| 10 | Crusaders | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 307 | 331 | −55 | 7 | 23 |
| 11 | Blues | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 243 | 298 | −55 | 4 | 20 |
| 12 | Bulls | 11 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 241 | 378 | −137 | 3 | 11 |

## Results
### Round 1

* 23 February 2001
| Coastal Sharks | 30–17 | Northern Bulls |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban
* 23 February 2001
| ACT Brumbies | 51–16 | Canterbury Crusaders |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra
* 23 February 2001
| Otago Highlanders | 23–8 | Auckland Blues |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin
* 24 February 2001
| Stormers | 24–29 | Golden Cats |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 46,544
* 24 February 2001
| Queensland Reds | 27–18 | Wellington Hurricanes |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 20,000
* 24 February 2001
| NSW Waratahs | 42–23 | Waikato Chiefs |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

### Round 2

* 2 March 2001
| Auckland Blues | 17–12 | Canterbury Crusaders |
| | | Pen: Aaron Mauger, Ben Blair(3) |
* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
* 3 March 2001
| Wellington Hurricanes | 26–20 | Northern Bulls |
* Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 29,848
* 3 March 2001
| Waikato Chiefs | 32–29 | Queensland Reds |
* Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Attendance: 12,000
* 3 March 2001
| Coastal Sharks | 17–16 | ACT Brumbies |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 32,000
* 3 March 2001
| Golden Cats | 56–21 | Otago Highlanders |
* Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 26,000
* 4 March 2001
| NSW Waratahs | 35–7 | Stormers |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 20,755

### Round 3

* 9 March 2001
| Wellington Hurricanes | 15–27 | Stormers |
* Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 31,682
* 10 March 2001
| Canterbury Crusaders | 40–11 | Waikato Chiefs |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 18,000
* 10 March 2001
| NSW Waratahs | 53–7 | Northern Bulls |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 23,019
* 10 March 2001
| Golden Cats | 17–19 | ACT Brumbies |
* Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 40,000
* 10 March 2001
| Coastal Sharks | 30–29 | Otago Highlanders |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 33,500
* 11 March 2001
| Auckland Blues | 39–35 | Queensland Reds |
* North Harbour Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 20,000

### Round 4

* 16 March 2001
| Waikato Chiefs | 34–16 | Auckland Blues |
* Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Attendance: 14,000
* 17 March 2001
| ACT Brumbies | 39–30 | Northern Bulls |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 15,900
* 17 March 2001
| Golden Cats | 28–21 | NSW Waratahs |
* Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 32,000
* 17 March 2001
| Coastal Sharks | 39–21 | Wellington Hurricanes |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 34,090
* 18 March 2001
| Otago Highlanders | 24–23 | Stormers |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 12,000

### Round 5

* 23 March 2001
| Golden Cats | 18–15 | Wellington Hurricanes |
* Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 10,000
* 23 March 2001
| Canterbury Crusaders | 32–26 | Queensland Reds |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 18,500
* 24 March 2001
| Otago Highlanders | 32–10 | Northern Bulls |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 11,400
* 24 March 2001
| ACT Brumbies | 40–25 | Stormers |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 15,534
* 24 March 2001
| Coastal Sharks | 42–17 | NSW Waratahs |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 51,344

### Round 6

* 30 March 2001
| Golden Cats | 26–25 | Coastal Sharks |
* Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 35,000
* 30 March 2001
| Queensland Reds | 15–23 | ACT Brumbies |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 17,796
* 30 March 2001
| Waikato Chiefs | 50–19 | Otago Highlanders |
* Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Attendance: 21,476
* 31 March 2001
| NSW Waratahs | 35–19 | Auckland Blues |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 30,893
* 31 March 2001
| Canterbury Crusaders | 29–41 | Wellington Hurricanes |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 20,000

### Round 7

* 6 April 2001
| Wellington Hurricanes | 34–19 | ACT Brumbies |
* Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 34,500
* 7 April 2001
| Stormers | 29–27 | Queensland Reds |
* Outeniqua Park, George Attendance: 11,000
* 7 April 2001
| Otago Highlanders | 39–20 | NSW Waratahs |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 11,000
* 7 April 2001
| Auckland Blues | 27–41 | Coastal Sharks |
* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 18,000
* 8 April 2001
| Northern Bulls | 29–42 | Canterbury Crusaders |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: 16,000
* 8 April 2001
| Waikato Chiefs | 22–18 | Golden Cats |
* Tauranga Domain, Tauranga Attendance: 9,000

### Round 8

* 13 April 2001
| Auckland Blues | 23–26 | Golden Cats |
* Okara Park, Whangārei
* 13 April 2001
| ACT Brumbies | 48–21 | NSW Waratahs |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra
* 14 April 2001
| Wellington Hurricanes | 35–33 | Otago Highlanders |
* McLean Park, Napier
* 14 April 2001
| Waikato Chiefs | 8–24 | Coastal Sharks |
* Owen Delany Park, Taupō
* 14 April 2001
| Northern Bulls | 19–29 | Queensland Reds |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
* 14 April 2001
| Stormers | 49–28 | Canterbury Crusaders |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

### Round 9

* 20 April 2001
| Otago Highlanders | 16–9 | ACT Brumbies |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin
* 21 April 2001
| Northern Bulls | 37–49 | Waikato Chiefs |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
* 21 April 2001
| Stormers | 12–26 | Auckland Blues |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
* 22 April 2001
| Queensland Reds | 32–27 | Coastal Sharks |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
* 22 April 2001
| Canterbury Crusaders | 31–32 | Golden Cats |
* Trafalgar Park, Nelson

### Round 10

* 27 April 2001
| Wellington Hurricanes | 42–17 | NSW Waratahs |
* Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
* 27 April 2001
| Stormers | 29–15 | Waikato Chiefs |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
* 28 April 2001
| Canterbury Crusaders | 34–24 | Coastal Sharks |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch
* 28 April 2001
| Queensland Reds | 22–16 | Golden Cats |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
* 28 April 2001
| Northern Bulls | 28–25 | Auckland Blues |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

### Round 11

* 4 May 2001
| Wellington Hurricanes | 27–51 | Waikato Chiefs |
* Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 34,500
* 5 May 2001
| Auckland Blues | 7–35 | ACT Brumbies |
* Eden Park, Auckland
* 5 May 2001
| Northern Bulls | 23–34 | Stormers |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
* 5 May 2001
| Queensland Reds | 33–22 | Otago Highlanders |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
* 5 May 2001
| NSW Waratahs | 25–22 | Canterbury Crusaders |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

### Round 12

* 11 May 2001
| Auckland Blues | 36–17 | Wellington Hurricanes |
* Eden Park, Auckland
* 11 May 2001
| ACT Brumbies | 49–6 | Waikato Chiefs |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra
* 11 May 2001
| Golden Cats | 19–21 | Northern Bulls |
* Ellis Park, Johannesburg
* 12 May 2001
| Otago Highlanders | 26–21 | Canterbury Crusaders |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin
* 12 May 2001
| NSW Waratahs | 20–25 | Queensland Reds |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
* 12 May 2001
| Stormers | 19–23 | Coastal Sharks |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

## Finals
### Semi finals

* 19 May 2001
| Coastal Sharks | 30–12 | Golden Cats |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 52,750
* 19 May 2001
| ACT Brumbies | 30–6 | Queensland Reds |
* Bruce Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 25,273

### Grand final

* 26 May 2001
| ACT Brumbies | 36–6 | Coastal Sharks |
| Try: Roff (2), Giffin Con: Walker (3) Pen: Walker (5) | | Pen: James (2) |
* Bruce Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 26,271 Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
| Brumbies | Sharks |
| FB | 15 | Andrew Walker |
| RW | 14 | Graeme Bond |
| OC | 13 | James Holbeck |
| IC | 12 | Rod Kafer |
| LW | 11 | Joe Roff |
| FH | 10 | Stephen Larkham |
| SH | 9 | George Gregan(c) |
| N8 | 8 | Jim Williams |
| OF | 7 | George Smith |
| BF | 6 | Peter Ryan |
| RL | 5 | David Giffin |
| LL | 4 | Justin Harrison |
| TP | 3 | Ben Darwin |
| HK | 2 | Jeremy Paul |
| LP | 1 | Bill Young |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Tom Murphy |
| PR | 17 | Matt Weaver |
| FL | 18 | David Pusey |
| FL | 19 | Radike Samo |
| FH | 20 | Travis Hall |
| CE | 21 | Craig McMullen |
| CE | 22 | Mark Bartholomeusz |
| Coach: ||
| Eddie Jones ||
| FB | 15 | Ricardo Loubscher |
| RW | 14 | Stefan Terblanche |
| OC | 13 | Deon Kayser |
| IC | 12 | Trevor Halstead |
| LW | 11 | Justin Swart |
| FH | 10 | Butch James |
| SH | 9 | Craig Davidson |
| N8 | 8 | AJ Venter |
| OF | 7 | Charl van Rensburg |
| BF | 6 | Warren Britz |
| RL | 5 | Mark Andrews (c) |
| LL | 4 | Albert van den Berg |
| TP | 3 | Etienne Fynn |
| HK | 2 | John Smit |
| LP | 1 | Ollie le Roux |
| Substitutions: ||
| HK | 16 | Lukas Van Biljon |
| PR | 17 | Brent Moyle |
| LK | 18 | Shaun Sowerby |
| N8 | 19 | Brad McLeod-Henderson |
| SH | 20 | Hentie Martens |
| FH | 21 | Gaffie du Toit |
| CE | 22 | André Snyman |
| Coach: ||
| Rudolf Straeuli ||

## Top scorers

* Points: Louis Koen 157 (Cats)
* Tries: Andrew Walker 8 (Brumbies), Aisea Tuilevu 8 (Highlanders)