# 2005 Super 12 season

The 2005 Super 12 season was the tenth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2005, 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 New South Wales Waratahs at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. The Crusaders won 35–25 to win their fifth Super 12 title.
This was the final season of Super 12 before the expansion to Super 14 with the Western Force and Cheetahs.

## Table

Key to colours :
* Top four teams advance to playoffs
| | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts |
| 1 | Crusaders | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 459 | 281 | 178 | 8 | 45 |
| 2 | Waratahs | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 322 | 174 | 148 | 5 | 41 |
| 3 | Bulls | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 301 | 229 | 72 | 6 | 34 |
| 4 | Hurricanes | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 281 | 248 | 33 | 2 | 34 |
| 5 | Brumbies | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 260 | 266 | −6 | 7 | 29 |
| 6 | Chiefs | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 272 | 250 | 22 | 6 | 28 |
| 7 | Blues | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 243 | 216 | 27 | 3 | 27 |
| 8 | Highlanders | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 221 | 214 | 7 | 1 | 27 |
| 9 | Stormers | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 215 | 320 | −105 | 4 | 18 |
| 10 | Reds | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 185 | 282 | −97 | 5 | 17 |
| 11 | Cats | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 226 | 326 | −100 | 7 | 13 |
| 12 | Sharks | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 205 | 384 | −179 | 5 | 11 |

## Results
### Round 1

* 25 February 2005
| Stormers | 26–12 | Sharks |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 48,719
* 25 February 2005
| Highlanders | 14–30 | Blues |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 20,106
* 25 February 2005
| Waratahs | 25–7 | Chiefs |
* ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 30,815
* 26 February 2005
| Cats | 23–17 | Bulls |
* Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 49,040
* 26 February 2005
| Brumbies | 32–21 | Crusaders |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 24,115
* 26 February 2005
| Reds | 10–24 | Hurricanes |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 20,097

### Round 2

* 4 March 2005
| Blues | 18–15 | Reds |
* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 25,542
* 4 March 2005
| Brumbies | 21–19 | Bulls |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 20,927
* 5 March 2005
| Highlanders | 16–16 | Stormers |
* Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Attendance: 8,141
* 5 March 2005
| Cats | 32–45 | Hurricanes |
* Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 27,882
* 5 March 2005
| Sharks | 13–36 | Waratahs |
* ABSA Stadium, Durban Attendance: 29,322
* 5 March 2005
| Crusaders | 50–18 | Chiefs |
* AMI Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 25,128

### Round 3

* 11 March 2005 19:35
| Sharks | 23–29 | Hurricanes |
* Kings Park, Durban Attendance: 20,442
* 11 March 2005
| Highlanders | 23–0 | Bulls |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 9,030
* 11 March 2005
| Brumbies | 22–19 | Stormers |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 22,316
* 12 March 2005
| Crusaders | 59–24 | Reds |
* Trafalgar Park, Nelson Attendance: 15,514
* 12 March 2005
| Cats | 19–40 | Waratahs |
* Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 36,365
* 12 March 2005
| Chiefs | 18–9 | Blues |
* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 23,095

### Round 4

* 18 March 2005
| Chiefs | 6–20 | Reds |
* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 13,641
* 19 March 2005
| Cats | 29–34 | Brumbies |
* Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 14,283
* 19 March 2005
| Hurricanes | 12–21 | Bulls |
* Wellington Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 23,300
* 19 March 2005
| Sharks | 7–43 | Highlanders |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 26,351
* 19 March 2005
| Blues | 19–41 | Crusaders |
* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 39,000
* 19 March 2005
| Waratahs | 25–10 | Stormers |
* ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 31,184

### Round 5

* 25 March 2005
| Cats | 12–16 | Highlanders |
* Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 20,000
* 25 March 2005
| Hurricanes | 12–9 | Stormers |
* Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North Attendance: 14,000
* 26 March 2005
| Sharks | 36–24 | Brumbies |
* Kings Park, Durban Attendance: 23,557
* 26 March 2005
| Waratahs | 42–12 | Bulls |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 25,133

### Round 6

* 1 April 2005
| Hurricanes | 28–16 | Chiefs |
* Wellington Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 23,325
* 1 April 2005
| Reds | 16–23 | Highlanders |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 19,567
* 2 April 2005
| Blues | 17–0 | Brumbies |
* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 31,503
* 2 April 2005
| Waratahs | 27–33 | Crusaders |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 39,363

### Round 7

* 8 April 2005
| Highlanders | 19–18 | Brumbies |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 15,000
* 9 April 2005
| Stormers | 15–13 | Reds |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 39,531
* 9 April 2005
| Bulls | 35–20 | Crusaders |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 27,267
* 9 April 2005
| Chiefs | 40–5 | Sharks |
* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 11,000
* 9 April 2005
| Blues | 23–6 | Cats |
* North Harbour Stadium, Albany Attendance: 12,677
* 10 April 2005
| Hurricanes | 26–24 | Waratahs |
* Wellington Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 25,400

### Round 8

* 15 April 2005
| Bulls | 32–7 | Reds |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 33,243
* 15 April 2005
| Chiefs | 45–14 | Cats |
* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 12,223
* 16 April 2005
| Stormers | 23–51 | Crusaders |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 40,153
* 16 April 2005
| Blues | 36–13 | Sharks |
* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 26,794
* 16 April 2005
| Brumbies | 6–10 | Waratahs |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 27,040

### Round 9

* 22 April 2005
| Hurricanes | 16–26 | Highlanders |
* Wellington Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 30,270
* 23 April 2005
| Bulls | 29–26 | Chiefs |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 26,382
* 23 April 2005
| Stormers | 24–37 | Blues |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 27,000
* 23 April 2005
| Crusaders | 40–36 | Cats |
* AMI Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 34,000
* 23 April 2005
| Reds | 30–25 | Sharks |
* Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 12,274

### Round 10

* 29 April 2005
| Bulls | 38–24 | Blues |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 34,357
* 29 April 2005
| Crusaders | 77–34 | Sharks |
* AMI Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 24,500
* 29 April 2005
| Reds | 21–15 | Cats |
* Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 10,482
* 30 April 2005
| Stormers | 34–37 | Chiefs |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 25,000
* 30 April 2005
| Highlanders | 20–41 | Waratahs |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 16,033
* 30 April 2005
| Hurricanes | 49–37 | Brumbies |
* Wellington Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 30,560

### Round 11

* 6 May 2005
| Blues | 10–22 | Hurricanes |
* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 45,017
* 6 May 2005
| Waratahs | 27–8 | Reds |
* Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 38,220
* 7 May 2005
| Sharks | 17–23 | Bulls |
* Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 31,342
* 7 May 2005
| Stormers | 25–20 | Cats |
* Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 27,503
* 7 May 2005
| Highlanders | 13–27 | Crusaders |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 22,000
* 7 May 2005
| Brumbies | 28–28 | Chiefs |
* Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 20,077

### Round 12

* 13 May 2005
| Crusaders | 40–20 | Hurricanes |
* Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 35,700
* 13 May 2005
| Waratahs | 25–20 | Blues |
* Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 36,031
* 14 May 2005
| Bulls | 75–14 | Stormers |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 50,000
* 14 May 2005
| Cats | 20–20 | Sharks |
* Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein Attendance: 8,675
* 14 May 2005
| Chiefs | 31–8 | Highlanders |
* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 20,317
* 14 May 2005
| Reds | 21–38 | Brumbies |
* Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 28,233

## Finals
### Semi-finals

* 20 May 2005
| Crusaders | 47–7 | Hurricanes |
| Try: Hamilton (3) Gear Carter Somerville Con: Carter (4) Pen: Carter (3) | | Try: Gopperth Con: Gopperth |
* Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 29,000 Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)
* 21 May 2005
| Waratahs | 23–13 | Bulls |
| Try: Turinui Grey Con: Hewat (2) Pen: Hewat (3) | | Try: Roets Con: Steyn Pen: Steyn (2) |
* Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 35,433 Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)

### Grand final

* 28 May 2005
| Crusaders | 35–25 | Waratahs |
| Try: Hamilton Hewett MacDonald Ralph Con: Carter (3) Pen: Carter (2) Drop: Mauger | | Try: Rogers (2) Waugh Con: Hewat Rogers Pen: Hewat (2) |
* Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 36,500
| Crusaders | Waratahs |
| FB | 15 | Leon MacDonald |
| RW | 14 | Rico Gear |
| OC | 13 | Caleb Ralph |
| IC | 12 | Aaron Mauger |
| LW | 11 | Scott Hamilton |
| FH | 10 | Dan Carter |
| SH | 9 | Justin Marshall |
| N8 | 8 | Mose Tuiali'i |
| OF | 7 | Richie McCaw (c) |
| BF | 6 | Reuben Thorne |
| RL | 5 | Ross Filipo |
| LL | 4 | Chris Jack |
| TP | 3 | Greg Somerville |
| HK | 2 | Corey Flynn |
| LP | 1 | David Hewett |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Tone Kopelani |
| PR | 17 | Campbell Johnstone |
| FL | 18 | Sam Broomhall |
| FL | 19 | Johnny Leo'o |
| FH | 20 | Jamie Nutbrown |
| CE | 21 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| CE | 22 | Casey Laulala |
| Coach: ||
| Robbie Deans ||
| FB | 15 | Mat Rogers |
| RW | 14 | Peter Hewat |
| OC | 13 | Morgan Turinui |
| IC | 12 | Nathan Grey |
| LW | 11 | Lote Tuqiri |
| FH | 10 | Lachlan MacKay |
| SH | 9 | Chris Whitaker(c) |
| N8 | 8 | David Lyons |
| OF | 7 | Phil Waugh |
| BF | 6 | Rocky Elsom |
| RL | 5 | Daniel Vickerman |
| LL | 4 | Justin Harrison |
| TP | 3 | Al Baxter |
| HK | 2 | Brendan Cannon |
| LP | 1 | Matt Dunning |
| Substitutions: ||
| HK | 16 | Adam Freier |
| PR | 17 | Gareth Hardy |
| LK | 18 | Alex Kanaar |
| N8 | 19 | Stephen Hoiles |
| SH | 20 | Chris O'Young |
| FH | 21 | Shaun Berne |
| CE | 22 | Cameron Shepherd |
| Coach: ||
| Ewen McKenzie ||

## Player statistics
### Leading try-scorers

Top 3 try scorers :
| Pos | Name | Tries | Team |
| 1 | Rico Gear | 15 | Crusaders |
| 2 | Peter Hewat | 10 | Waratahs |
| 3 | Bryan Habana | 9 | Bulls |

### Leading point-scorers

Top 3 point scorers :
| Pos | Name | Points | Team |
| 1 | Peter Hewat | 174 | Waratahs |
| 2 | Dan Carter | 171 | Crusaders |
| 3 | Jimmy Gopperth | 139 | Hurricanes |