# 2002 Super 12 season

The 2002 Super 12 season was the seventh 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 2002, 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 Jade Stadium, Christchurch. The Crusaders won 31–13 to win their fourth Super 12 title.

## Table

Key to colours :
* Top four teams advance to playoffs
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts |
| 1 | Crusaders | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 469 | 264 | +205 | 7 | 51 |
| 2 | Waratahs | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 337 | 284 | +53 | 7 | 39 |
| 3 | Brumbies | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 374 | 230 | +144 | 10 | 38 |
| 4 | Highlanders | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 329 | 207 | +122 | 6 | 38 |
| 5 | Reds | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 336 | 287 | +49 | 6 | 34 |
| 6 | Blues | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 318 | 249 | +69 | 5 | 29 |
| 7 | Stormers | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 310 | 314 | −4 | 7 | 27 |
| 8 | Chiefs | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 323 | 341 | −18 | 8 | 24 |
| 9 | Hurricanes | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 232 | 317 | −85 | 3 | 23 |
| 10 | Sharks | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 221 | 309 | −88 | 3 | 19 |
| 11 | Cats | 11 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 228 | 407 | −179 | 2 | 6 |
| 12 | Bulls | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 232 | 500 | −268 | 1 | 1 |

## Results
### Round 1

* 22 February 2002
| Coastal Sharks | 18–25 | Stormers |
| Try: Stefan Terblanche (2) Con: Gaffie du Toit Pen: Gaffie du Toit (2) | | Try: Marius Goosen Percy Montgomery Pieter Rossouw Con: Marius Goosen (2) Pen: Marius Goosen Drop: Bolla Conradie |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Referee: Andre Watson (South Africa)
* 22 February 2002
| Wellington Hurricanes | 7–60 | Auckland Blues |
| Try: Jason Spice Con: Daryl Lilley | | Try: Doug Howlett (4) Rupeni Caucaunibuca (2) Mark Mayerhofler Troy Flavell Con: Carlos Spencer (6) James Arlidge Pen: Carlos Spencer (2) |
* Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 31,000 Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
* 23 February 2002
| Canterbury Crusaders | 30–28 | Otago Highlanders |
| Try: Andrew Mehrtens Joe Maddock Con: Andrew Mehrtens Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (6) | | Try: Jeff Wilson Ryan Nicholas Willie Walker Con: Tony Brown (2) Pen: Tony Brown (3) |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
* 23 February 2002
| Waikato Chiefs | 25–42 | NSW Waratahs |
* Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
* 23 February 2002
| Northern Bulls | 31–44 | Golden Cats |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
* 23 February 2002
| ACT Brumbies | 29–19 | Queensland Reds |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra

### Round 2

* 1 March 2002
| Waikato Chiefs | 27–34 | Canterbury Crusaders |
| Try: Mark Ranby Roger Randle Todd Miller Con: David Hill (3) Pen: David Hill (2) | | Try: Aaron Mauger Daryl Gibson Joe Maddock Con: Andrew Mehrtens (2) Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (4) Drop: Aaron Mauger |
* Rugby Park, Hamilton Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
* 2 March 2002
| ACT Brumbies | 64–16 | Golden Cats |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra
* 2 March 2002
| Northern Bulls | 18–37 | Wellington Hurricanes |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
* 2 March 2002
| Otago Highlanders | 45–5 | Coastal Sharks |
| Try: Anton Oliver Craig Newby Jeff Wilson Joe McDonnell Romi Ropati Con: Tony Brown (4) Pen: Tony Brown (4) | | Try: Nicky van der Walt |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: Wayne Erickson (Australia)
* 2 March 2002
| Queensland Reds | 34–23 | Auckland Blues |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
* 2 March 2002
| Stormers | 25–26 | NSW Waratahs |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

### Round 3

* 8 March 2002
| ACT Brumbies | 38–8 | Coastal Sharks |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra
* 8 March 2002
| Otago Highlanders | 40–8 | Golden Cats |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin
* 8 March 2002
| Stormers | 40–13 | Wellington Hurricanes |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
* 9 March 2002
| Northern Bulls | 19–51 | NSW Waratahs |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
* 9 March 2002
| Canterbury Crusaders | 30–11 | Auckland Blues |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch
* 9 March 2002
| Queensland Reds | 27–13 | Waikato Chiefs |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane

### Round 4

* 15 March 2002
| Wellington Hurricanes | 40–17 | Coastal Sharks |
* Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 28,000
* 16 March 2002
| Northern Bulls | 35–45 | ACT Brumbies |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
* 16 March 2002
| Stormers | 20–21 | Otago Highlanders |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
* 16 March 2002
| NSW Waratahs | 44–21 | Golden Cats |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 29,344
* 17 March 2002
| Queensland Reds | 27–34 | Canterbury Crusaders |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane

### Round 5

* 22 March 2002
| Northern Bulls | 17–54 | Otago Highlanders |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
* 22 March 2002
| Wellington Hurricanes | 30–21 | Golden Cats |
* Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 30,000
* 23 March 2002
| Auckland Blues | 37–30 | Waikato Chiefs |
* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 28,000
* 23 March 2002
| Stormers | 15–36 | ACT Brumbies |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
* 23 March 2002
| NSW Waratahs | 42–8 | Coastal Sharks |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 28,058

### Round 6

* 29 March 2002
| Auckland Blues | 22–20 | NSW Waratahs |
* North Harbour Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 22,000
* 30 March 2002
| Wellington Hurricanes | 22–18 | Queensland Reds |
* Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North
* 30 March 2002
| Otago Highlanders | 24–29 | Waikato Chiefs |
* Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill
* 31 March 2002
| Canterbury Crusaders | 33–32 | ACT Brumbies |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch

### Round 7

* 5 April 2002
| Otago Highlanders | 19–10 | Wellington Hurricanes |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin
* 6 April 2002
| Coastal Sharks | 20–13 | Auckland Blues |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban
* 6 April 2002
| Queensland Reds | 49–46 | Stormers |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
* 6 April 2002
| Canterbury Crusaders | 49–15 | Northern Bulls |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch
* 6 April 2002
| Golden Cats | 25–36 | Waikato Chiefs |
* Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

### Round 8

* 12 April 2002
| Golden Cats | 12–24 | Auckland Blues |
* Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 10,000
* 12 April 2002
| Canterbury Crusaders | 41–21 | Stormers |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 27,000
* 12 April 2002
| Queensland Reds | 48–12 | Northern Bulls |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
* 13 April 2002
| Coastal Sharks | 21–18 | Waikato Chiefs |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 26,000
* 13 April 2002
| NSW Waratahs | 31–13 | Otago Highlanders |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 35,254
* 14 April 2002
| ACT Brumbies | 13–20 | Wellington Hurricanes |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 21,011

### Round 9

* 19 April 2002
| Auckland Blues | 65–24 | Northern Bulls |
* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 26,640
* 20 April 2002
| Golden Cats | 15–27 | Queensland Reds |
* Ellis Park, Johannesburg
* 20 April 2002
| Waikato Chiefs | 33–45 | Stormers |
* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
* 20 April 2002
| Coastal Sharks | 34–37 | Canterbury Crusaders |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 30,000
* 20 April 2002
| NSW Waratahs | 19–11 | ACT Brumbies |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 41,645

### Round 10

* 26 April 2002
| Auckland Blues | 25–6 | Stormers |
* Eden Park, Auckland
* 26 April 2002
| ACT Brumbies | 18–25 | Otago Highlanders |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra
* 26 April 2002
| Golden Cats | 30–37 | Canterbury Crusaders |
* Ellis Park, Johannesburg
* 27 April 2002
| Coastal Sharks | 29–30 | Queensland Reds |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban
* 27 April 2002
| Waikato Chiefs | 53–24 | Northern Bulls |
* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
* 27 April 2002
| NSW Waratahs | 19–13 | Wellington Hurricanes |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 37,288

### Round 11

* 3 May 2002
| Auckland Blues | 13–20 | Otago Highlanders |
* Eden Park, Auckland
* 4 May 2002
| Northern Bulls | 10–23 | Coastal Sharks |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
* 4 May 2002
| Golden Cats | 25–36 | Stormers |
* Ellis Park, Johannesburg
* 4 May 2002
| Waikato Chiefs | 15–42 | ACT Brumbies |
* Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
* 4 May 2002
| Wellington Hurricanes | 20–48 | Canterbury Crusaders |
* Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 34,500
* 5 May 2002
| Queensland Reds | 31–24 | NSW Waratahs |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane

### Round 12

* 10 May 2002
| Waikato Chiefs | 44–20 | Wellington Hurricanes |
* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 25,000
* 10 May 2002
| ACT Brumbies | 46–25 | Auckland Blues |
| Try: Graeme Bond Andrew Walker Stephen Larkham Stirling Mortlock Con: Andrew Walker (3) Pen: Andrew Walker (3) Stirling Mortlock (2) | | Try: Doug Howlett Rico Gear Samiu Vahafolau Con: Carlos Spencer (2) Pen: Carlos Spencer (2) |
* Bruce Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 23,623 Referee: Tappe Henning (South Africa)
* 11 May 2002
| Canterbury Crusaders | 96–19 | NSW Waratahs |
| Try: Caleb Ralph (4) Leon MacDonald (2) Marika Vunibaka (2) Scott Robertson (2) Aaron Mauger Daryl Gibson Greg Feek Justin Marshall Con: Andrew Mehrtens (13) | | Try: Des Tuiavii Francis Cullimore Marc Stcherbina Con: Matt Burke (2) |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 36,000 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
* 11 May 2002
| Otago Highlanders | 40–26 | Queensland Reds |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 26,100
* 11 May 2002
| Coastal Sharks | 38–11 | Golden Cats |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 29,517
* 11 May 2002
| Stormers | 31–27 | Northern Bulls |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 30,000

## Finals
### Semi finals

* 18 May 2002
| Crusaders | 34–23 | Highlanders |
| Try: Mark Robinson (2) Richie McCaw Con: Andrew Mehrtens (2) Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (3) Drop: Andrew Mehrtens Aaron Mauger | | Try: Jeff Wilson Willie Walker Con: Willie Walker (2) Pen: Willie Walker (3) |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
* 18 May 2002
| Waratahs | 10–51 | ACT Brumbies |
| Try: Scott Staniforth Con: Matt Burke Pen: Matthew Burke | | Try: Graeme Bond Jeremy Paul Justin Harrison Owen Finegan Pat Howard Con: Julian Huxley (5) Stirling Mortlock Pen: Julian Huxley (2) Andrew Walker |
* Aussie Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 36,146 Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

### Grand final

* 25 May 2002
| Crusaders | 31–13 | ACT Brumbies |
| Try: Vunibaka Ralph (2) Con: Mehrtens (2) Pen: Mehrtens (3) Drop: Mehrtens | | Try: Walker Con: Walker Pen: Walker (2) |
* Jade Stadium, Christchurch Referee: Andre Watson (South Africa)
| Crusaders | Brumbies |
| | 15 | Leon MacDonald |
| | 14 | Marika Vunibaka |
| | 13 | Mark Robinson |
| | 12 | Aaron Mauger |
| | 11 | Caleb Ralph |
| | 10 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| | 8 | Scott Robertson |
| | 7 | Richie McCaw |
| | 6 | Chris Jack |
| | 5 | Norm Maxwell |
| | 4 | Reuben Thorne (c) |
| | 3 | Greg Feek |
| | 2 | Mark Hammett |
| | 1 | Greg Somerville |
| Replacements: ||
| | 16 | David Hewett |
| | 17 | Corey Flynn |
| | 18 | Sam Broomhall |
| | 19 | Johnny Leo'o |
| | 20 | Ben Hurst |
| | 21 | Daryl Gibson |
| | 22 | Ben Blair |
| Coach: ||
| Robbie Deans ||
| | 15 | Mark Bartholomeusz |
| | 14 | Graeme Bond |
| | 13 | Stirling Mortlock |
| | 12 | Pat Howard |
| | 11 | Andrew Walker |
| | 10 | Stephen Larkham |
| | 9 | George Gregan (c) |
| | 8 | Scott Fava |
| | 7 | George Smith |
| | 6 | Owen Finegan |
| | 5 | Justin Harrison |
| | 4 | Daniel Vickerman |
| | 3 | Ben Darwin |
| | 2 | Jeremy Paul |
| | 1 | Bill Young |
| Replacements: ||
| | 16 | Damian Flynn |
| | 17 | Angus Scott |
| | 18 | David Pusey |
| | 19 | Peter Ryan |
| | 20 | Travis Hall |
| | 21 | Joel Wilson |
| | 22 | Julian Huxley |
| Coach: ||
| David Nucifora ||