# 2000 Super 12 season

The 2000 Super 12 season was the fifth 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 2000, 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 Crusaders and the Brumbies at Bruce Stadium, Canberra. The Crusaders won 20–19 to win their third consecutive Super 12 title.

## Table

Key to colours :
* Top four teams advance to playoffs
| | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts |
| 1 | Brumbies | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 393 | 196 | +197 | 9 | 45 |
| 2 | Crusaders | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 369 | 293 | +76 | 7 | 39 |
| 3 | Highlanders | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 320 | 280 | +40 | 8 | 32 |
| 4 | Cats | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 320 | 334 | -14 | 4 | 32 |
| 5 | Stormers | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 298 | 276 | +22 | 5 | 31 |
| 6 | Blues | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 300 | 262 | +38 | 6 | 30 |
| 7 | Reds | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 317 | 305 | +12 | 6 | 30 |
| 8 | Hurricanes | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 308 | 329 | −29 | 5 | 29 |
| 9 | Waratahs | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 273 | 258 | +15 | 5 | 25 |
| 10 | Chiefs | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 257 | 352 | −95 | 8 | 20 |
| 11 | Bulls | 11 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 231 | 395 | −164 | 3 | 11 |
| 12 | Sharks | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 235 | 341 | −106 | 3 | 9 |

## Results
### Round 1

* 25 February 2000
| Hurricanes | 40–23 | Sharks |
* Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 33,442
* 25 February 2000
| Brumbies | 15–18 | Blues |
| Try: Andrew Walker (2) Con: Stirling Mortlock Pen: Stirling Mortlock | | Try: Charles Riechelmann Finau Maka Con: Adrian Cashmore Pen: Adrian Cashmore (2) |
* Bruce Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 14,000 Referee: Andre Watson
* 26 February 2000
| Northern Bulls | 19–23 | Cats |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: 43,000
* 26 February 2000
| Highlanders | 50–13 | Reds |
| Try: Marc Ellis (2), Romi Ropati (2), Jeff Wilson, Rico Gear Con: Tony Brown (4) Pen: Tony Brown (4) | | Try: Chris Latham Con: Shane Drahm Pen: Shane Drahm (2) |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: Tappe Henning
* 26 February 2000
| Stormers | 22–15 | Waratahs |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 44,000
* 27 February 2000
| Chiefs | 24–27 | Crusaders |
| Try: Chresten Davis, Loki Crichton Con: Glen Jackson Pen: Glen Jackson (4) | | Try: Caleb Ralph, Todd Blackadder Con: Andrew Mehrtens (3) Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (4) Drop: Aaron Mauger |
* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Referee: Paddy O'Brien

### Round 2

* 3 March 2000
| Highlanders | 27–20 | Sharks |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin
* 4 March 2000
| Hurricanes | 43–25 | Reds |
| Try: Tana Umaga (3), Christian Cullen, Jason O'Halloran, Jonah Lomu Con: David Holwell (5) Pen: David Holwell | | Try: Damian Smith, Fletcher Dyson, Sam Cordingley Con: Shane Drahm (2) Pen: Shane Drahm (2) |
* Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth Referee: Andy Turner
* 4 March 2000
| Cats | 22–18 | Stormers |
* Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 26,500
* 4 March 2000
| Northern Bulls | 13–33 | Waratahs |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
* 5 March 2000
| Blues | 25–32 | Chiefs |
* North Harbour, Auckland Attendance: 25,000

### Round 3

* 10 March 2000
| Crusaders | 32–20 | Blues |
| Try: Caleb Ralph, Leon MacDonald, Scott Robertson Con: Andrew Mehrtens Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (3) Drop: Andrew Mehrtens | | Try: Troy Flavell (2), Mark Robinson Con: Hayden Taylor Pen: Hayden Taylor |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Referee: Kelvin Deaker
* 10 March 2000
| Brumbies | 51–10 | Sharks |
| Try: Andrew Walker (3) Mark Bartholomeusz (2) Jim Williams Joe Roff Con: Stirling Mortlock (5) Pen: Stirling Mortlock (2) | | Try: Clinton van Rensburg Con: Gaffie du Toit Pen: Gaffie du Toit |
* Bruce Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 10,900 Referee: Steve Walsh
* 11 March 2000
| Highlanders | 35–19 | Hurricanes |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin
* 11 March 2000
| Waratahs | 51–16 | Cats |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 20,024
* 11 March 2000
| Stormers | 19–19 | Northern Bulls |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 45,177

### Round 4

* 17 March 2000
| Highlanders | 33–31 | Cats |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin
* 18 March 2000
| Waratahs | 19–26 | Sharks |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
* 18 March 2000
| Chiefs | 19–24 | Hurricanes |
* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
* 18 March 2000
| Reds | 19–27 | Crusaders |
| Try: Chris Latham Con: Shane Drahm Pen: Shane Drahm (4) | | Try: Justin Marshall, Leon MacDonald, Ron Cribb Con: Andrew Mehrtens (3) Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (2) |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 18,500 Referee: Andre Watson
* 18 March 2000
| Stormers | 15–29 | Brumbies |
| Pen: Percy Montgomery (5) | | Try: Owen Finegan (2) Ipolito Fenukitau Stirling Mortlock Con: Stirling Mortlock (3) Pen: Stirling Mortlock |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 35,177 Referee: Paddy O'Brien

### Round 5

* 24 March 2000
| Blues | 31–17 | Waratahs |
* Eden Park, Auckland
* 25 March 2000
| Hurricanes | 29–23 | Cats |
* Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North
* 25 March 2000
| Northern Bulls | 19–28 | Brumbies |
| Try: Anton Leonard Con: Jannie de Beer Pen: Jannie de Beer (3) Drop: Jannie de Beer | | Try: Mark Bartholomeusz (2) George Gregan Con: Stirling Mortlock (2) Pen: Stirling Mortlock (3) |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: 18,514 Referee: Kelvin Deaker
* 25 March 2000
| Crusaders | 47–31 | Stormers |
| Try: Marika Vunibaka (2), Caleb Ralph, Justin Marshall, Ron Cribb, Todd Blackadder Con: Andrew Mehrtens (3), Leon MacDonald Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (3) | | Try: Chean Roux (2), De Wet Barry, Cobus Visagie Con: Braam van Straaten (2), Dan van Zyl, Percy Montgomery Pen: Braam van Straaten |
* Trafalgar Park, Nelson Referee: Stuart Dickinson
* 25 March 2000
| Reds | 37–17 | Chiefs |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane

### Round 6

* 31 March 2000
| Hurricanes | 14–25 | Blues |
* Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 33,666
* 1 April 2000
| Northern Bulls | 14–14 | Sharks |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: 21,000
* 1 April 2000
| Reds | 31–16 | Waratahs |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
* 1 April 2000
| Crusaders | 42–36 | Highlanders |
| Try: Ron Cribb (2), Caleb Ralph, Marika Vunibaka, Norm Berryman Con: Andrew Mehrtens (4) Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (3) | | Try: Karl Te Nana, Kelvin Middleton, Pita Alatini, Rua Tipoki Con: Rua Tipoki, Tony Brown Pen: Tony Brown (3) Drop: Tony Brown |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Referee: Steve Walsh
* 1 April 2000
| Brumbies | 64–0 | Cats |
| Try: Owen Finegan (3) Andrew Walker Graeme Bond Ipolito Fenukitau Joe Roff Mark Bartholomeusz Stirling Mortlock Con: Stirling Mortlock (8) Pen: Stirling Mortlock | | |
* Bruce Stadium, Canberra Referee: Colin Hawke
* 2 April 2000
| Chiefs | 25–28 | Stormers |
* Growers Stadium, Pukekohe

### Round 7

* 7 April 2000
| Hurricanes | 28–22 | Crusaders |
| Try: Christian Cullen (2), Jonah Lomu (2) Con: David Holwell (4) | | Try: Marika Vunibaka, Todd Blackadder Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (4) |
* Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 32,697 Referee: Paddy O'Brien
* 7 April 2000
| Brumbies | 34–15 | Highlanders |
| Try: Andrew Walker David Giffin Joe Roff Stephen Larkham Con: Stirling Mortlock Pen: Stirling Mortlock (4) | | Pen: Tony Brown (5) |
* Bruce Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 15,028 Referee: Andre Watson
* 8 April 2000
| Sharks | 27–28 | Cats |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 36,000
* 8 April 2000
| Reds | 34–15 | Northern Bulls |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
* 8 April 2000
| Blues | 18–39 | Stormers |
* Eden Park, Auckland
* 9 April 2000
| Chiefs | 30–37 | Waratahs |
* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 2,500

### Round 8

* 14 April 2000
| Reds | 37–24 | Stormers |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
* 14 April 2000
| Blues | 26–16 | Highlanders |
* Eden Park, Auckland
* 15 April 2000
| Waratahs | 30–25 | Brumbies |
| Try: Matt Burke Scott Staniforth Con: Matt Burke Pen: Matt Burke (6) | | Try: Andrew Walker Bill Young Jim Williams Con: Stirling Mortlock (2) Pen: Stirling Mortlock (2) |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 33,987 Referee: Stuart Dickinson
* 15 April 2000
| Sharks | 24–32 | Crusaders |
| Try: Pieter Muller (2), Jacques Greeff Con: Gaffie du Toit (3) Pen: Gaffie du Toit | | Try: Caleb Ralph, Leon MacDonald, Mark Mayerhofler, Ron Cribb Con: Andrew Mehrtens (3) Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (2) |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 26,965 Referee: Scott Young
* 15 April 2000
| Chiefs | 40–7 | Northern Bulls |
* Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Attendance: 8,000

### Round 9

* 21 April 2000
| Highlanders | 38–6 | Chiefs |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin
* 21 April 2000
| Brumbies | 47–28 | Hurricanes |
| Try: Joe Roff Mark Bartholomeusz Patricio Noriega Rod Kafer Con: Stirling Mortlock (3) Pen: Stirling Mortlock (5) Andrew Walker Drop: Rod Kafer | | Try: Alama Ieremia David Holwell Jonah Lomu Con: David Holwell (2) Pen: David Holwell (3) |
* Bruce Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 16,271 Referee: Tappe Henning
* 22 April 2000
| Blues | 54–11 | Northern Bulls |
* Eden Park, Auckland
* 22 April 2000
| Sharks | 13–24 | Reds |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 20,541
* 22 April 2000
| Cats | 54–31 | Crusaders |
| Try: Thinus Delport (2), Grant Esterhuizen, Japie Mulder, Rassie Erasmus, Werner Swanepoel Con: Louis Koen (6) Pen: Louis Koen (3) Drop: Louis Koen | | Try: Afato So'oalo, Greg Feek, Leon MacDonald Con: Andrew Mehrtens (2) Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (4) |
* Ellis Park, Johannesburg Referee: Andrew Cole

### Round 10

* 28 April 2000
| Crusaders | 75–27 | Northern Bulls |
| Try: Caleb Ralph (3), Marika Vunibaka (3), Justin Marshall (2), Chris Jack, Dallas Seymour, Scott Robertson Con: Aaron Mauger (6), Andrew Mehrtens (4) | | Try: Frikkie Welsh, Henry Pedro, Jaco van der Westhuyzen Con: Jannie de Beer (3) Pen: Jannie de Beer Drop: Jannie de Beer |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Referee: Wayne Erickson
* 29 April 2000
| Cats | 36–32 | Reds |
* Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 22,000
* 29 April 2000
| Chiefs | 17–45 | Brumbies |
| Try: George Leaupepe Pen: Glen Jackson (4) | | Try: Andrew Walker (3) Jeremy Paul Stephen Larkham Stirling Mortlock Con: Stirling Mortlock (6) Pen: Stirling Mortlock |
* Rugby Park, Hamilton Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
* 29 April 2000
| Stormers | 27–13 | Highlanders |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 40,152
* 29 April 2000
| Waratahs | 20–27 | Hurricanes |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 32,888
* 30 April 2000
| Sharks | 19–30 | Blues |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 23,524

### Round 11

* 5 May 2000
| Crusaders | 22–13 | Waratahs |
| Try: Marika Vunibaka (2), Justin Marshall, Leon MacDonald Con: Leon MacDonald | | Try: Christian Warner Con: Matt Burke Pen: Matthew Burke (2) |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Tappe Henning
* 5 May 2000
| Cats | 34–27 | Blues |
* Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 28,000
* 6 May 2000
| Sharks | 31–44 | Chiefs |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban
* 6 May 2000
| Brumbies | 38–32 | Reds |
| Try: Mark Bartholomeusz Stirling Mortlock Rod Kafer Stephen Larkham Con: Stirling Mortlock (3) Pen: Stirling Mortlock (4) Cards: George Gregan | | Try: Matt Cockbain Sam Cordingley Con: Shane Drahm (2) Pen: Shane Drahm (6) |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 19,984
* 6 May 2000
| Northern Bulls | 40–42 | Highlanders |
* Puma Stadium, Witbank
* 7 May 2000
| Stormers | 43–23 | Hurricanes |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 42,446

### Round 12

* 12 May 2000
| Waratahs | 22–15 | Highlanders |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 23,000
* 12 May 2000
| Northern Bulls | 47–33 | Hurricanes |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
* 12 May 2000
| Crusaders | 12–17 | Brumbies |
| Pen: Leon MacDonald (4) | | Try: Andrew Walker Mitch Hardy Con: Stirling Mortlock (2) Pen: Stirling Mortlock |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Referee: Andre Watson
* 12 May 2000
| Sharks | 28–32 | Stormers |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban
* 13 May 2000
| Cats | 53–3 | Chiefs |
* Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
* 13 May 2000
| Reds | 33–26 | Blues |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane

## Finals
### Semi finals

* 20 May 2000
| Brumbies | 28–5 | Cats |
| Try: Andrew Walker Joe Roff Mitch Hardy Con: Stirling Mortlock (2) Pen: Stirling Mortlock (3) | | Try: Jannie van der Walt |
* Bruce Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 25,126 Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
* 20 May 2000
| Crusaders | 37–15 | Highlanders |
| Try: Marika Vunibaka (2), Ron Cribb Con: Andrew Mehrtens (2) Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (6) | | Try: Byron Kelleher, Simon Maling Con: Brendan Laney Pen: Tony Brown |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Referee: Wayne Erickson (Australia)

### Grand final

* 27 May 2000
| Brumbies | 19–20 | Crusaders |
| Try: George Smith Con: Stirling Mortlock Pen: Stirling Mortlock (4) | | Try: Ron Cribb Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (5) |
* Bruce Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 27,489 Referee: Andre Watson (South Africa)
| Brumbies | Crusaders |
| | 15 | Andrew Walker |
| | 14 | Joe Roff |
| | 13 | Rod Kafer |
| | 12 | Stirling Mortlock |
| | 11 | Mark Bartholomeusz |
| | 10 | Stephen Larkham |
| | 9 | George Gregan (c) |
| | 8 | Jim Williams |
| | 7 | Ipolito Fenukitau |
| | 6 | Brett Robinson (c) |
| | 5 | Justin Harrison |
| | 4 | David Giffin |
| | 3 | Patricio Noriega |
| | 2 | Jeremy Paul |
| | 1 | Bill Young |
| Substitutes: ||
| Coach: ||
| Eddie Jones ||
| | 15 | Leon MacDonald |
| | 14 | Caleb Ralph |
| | 13 | Daryl Gibson |
| | 12 | Mark Robinson |
| | 11 | Marika Vunibaka |
| | 10 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| | 9 | Ben Hurst |
| | 8 | Ron Cribb |
| | 7 | Reuben Thorne |
| | 6 | Scott Robertson |
| | 5 | Norm Maxwell |
| | 4 | Todd Blackadder (c) |
| | 3 | Greg Feek |
| | 2 | Mark Hammett |
| | 1 | Greg Somerville |
| Substitutions: ||
| Coach: ||
| Robbie Deans ||

## Individual records
### Top point scorers

| Name | Tries | Convs | Pens | DGs | Total |
| Stirling Mortlock | 4 | 39 | 32 | — | 194 |
| Andrew Mehrtens | — | 25 | 36 | 1 | 161 |
| Willem de Waal | — | 8 | 10 | — | 46 |
| Peter Grant | — | 10 | 5 | — | 35 |
| Justin Peach | 1 | 6 | 5 | — | 32 |

### Top try scorers

| Name | Tries |
| Andrew Walker | 13 |
| Marika Vunibaka | 11 |
| Christian Cullen | 10 |
| Breyton Paulse | 10 |
| Caleb Ralph | 8 |