2003 Super 12 season

2003 Super 12
Countries	Australia  South Africa  New Zealand
Tournament format(s)	Round-robin and knockout
Champions	Auckland Blues (3rd title)
Matches played	69
Attendance	1,686,678 (24,445 per match)
Top point scorer(s)	Carlos Spencer (143) (Auckland Blues)
Top try scorer(s)	Doug Howlett (12) (Auckland Blues)
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The 2003 Super 12 season was the eighth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2003, 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 Blues and the Crusaders at Eden Park, Auckland. The Blues won 21–17 to win their third Super 12 title, and their first since 1997, it was their first Grand Final appearance since 1998.

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	BP	Pts
1	Blues	11	10	0	1	393	185	+208	9	49
2	Crusaders	11	8	0	3	360	263	+97	8	40
3	Hurricanes	11	7	0	4	324	277	+47	7	35
4	Brumbies	11	6	0	5	358	313	+45	7	31
5	Waratahs	11	6	0	5	313	344	−31	7	31
6	Bulls	11	6	0	5	320	354	−34	5	30
7	Highlanders	11	6	0	5	287	246	+41	5	29
8	Reds	11	5	0	6	281	318	−37	6	26
9	Stormers	11	5	0	6	255	353	−98	3	23
10	Chiefs	11	2	0	9	257	274	−17	9	17
11	Sharks	11	3	0	8	239	306	−67	5	17
12	Cats	11	2	0	9	259	398	−139	4	12

21 February 2003 19:35

Waikato Chiefs	16–29	Otago Highlanders
Try: Paul Miller Con: Glen Jackson Pen: Glen Jackson (3)		Try: Aisea Tuilevu Pen: Willie Walker (8)

Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 12,000

21 February 2003 19:40

NSW Waratahs	18–31	Auckland Blues
Try: Morgan Turinui Duncan McRae Con: Matt Burke (1/2) Pen: Matt Burke (3)		Try: Rupeni Caucaunibuca (2) Joe Rokocoko David Gibson Con: Orene Ai'i (1/4) Pen: Orene Ai'i (3)

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 27,247

21 February 2003 17:05

Golden Cats	26–34	Northern Bulls
Try: Gcobani Bobo Friedrich Lombard Con: André Pretorius (2/2) Pen: André Pretorius (4)		Try: Joost van der Westhuizen Con: Louis Koen (1/1) Pen: Louis Koen (6) Drop: Louis Koen (3)

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 9,937

21 February 2003 19:10

Stormers	40–18	Coastal Sharks
Con: Chris Rossouw (3/5) Pen: Chris Rossouw (3)		Pen: Butch James

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 44,533

22 February 2003 19:35

Canterbury Crusaders	37–21	Wellington Hurricanes
Try: Dan Carter (2) Caleb Ralph Marika Vunibaka Aaron Mauger Con: Leon MacDonald (3/5) Pen: Leon MacDonald (2)		Try: Ma'a Nonu Joe Ward Con: Riki Flutey (1/2) Pen: Riki Flutey (3)

Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 30,000

22 February 2003 18:40

Queensland Reds	19–22	ACT Brumbies
Try: Chris Latham Con: Julian Huxley (1/1) Pen: Julian Huxley (4)		Try: Joe Roff Con: Stirling Mortlock (1/1) Pen: Stirling Mortlock (5)

Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 18,000

28 February 2003 19:35

Canterbury Crusaders	34–6	Queensland Reds
		Pen: Elton Flatley(2)

Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 23,000 Referee: Mark Lawrence

1 March 2003 14:35

Otago Highlanders	41–17	Stormers

Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 18,000

1 March 2003 17:35

Wellington Hurricanes	34–46	Northern Bulls

McLean Park, Napier Attendance: 10,000

1 March 2003 19:35

Waikato Chiefs	27–30	Auckland Blues

Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 10,000

1 March 2003 17:05

Coastal Sharks	25–17	ACT Brumbies

Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 32,000

1 March 2003 19:10

Golden Cats	36–48	NSW Waratahs

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 22,000

7 March 2003 18:00

Otago Highlanders	29–22	Northern Bulls

Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Attendance: 14,500

7 March 2003 20:00

Wellington Hurricanes	33–18	Stormers

Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 25,600[1]

7 March 2003 19:10

Golden Cats	34–32	ACT Brumbies

Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 25,237

8 March 2003 17:35

Waikato Chiefs	43–27	Queensland Reds

Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 11,000

8 March 2003 19:35

Auckland Blues	39–5	Canterbury Crusaders

North Harbour Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 23,000

8 March 2003 17:05

Coastal Sharks	36–49	NSW Waratahs

Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 28,750

14 March 2003 19:35

Canterbury Crusaders	36–29	Waikato Chiefs

Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Steve Walsh

14 March 2003 19:40

ACT Brumbies	37–22	Stormers

Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 18,886

14 March 2003 19:10

Coastal Sharks	20–35	Wellington Hurricanes

Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 32,000

15 March 2003 19:40

NSW Waratahs	26–16	Northern Bulls

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 28,587

15 March 2003 17:05

Golden Cats	33–21	Otago Highlanders

Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Stuart Dickinson

21 March 2003 19:00

Auckland Blues	62–20	Queensland Reds

Okara Park, Whangārei Attendance: 15,000

21 March 2003 20:00

NSW Waratahs	29–39	Stormers

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 26,947

21 March 2003 19:10

Coastal Sharks	19–23	Otago Highlanders

Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 26,550

22 March 2003 19:40

ACT Brumbies	64–26	Northern Bulls

Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 20,240

22 March 2003 17:05

Golden Cats	21–28	Wellington Hurricanes

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Attendance: 15,000

28 March 2003 19:35

Auckland Blues	41–15	ACT Brumbies

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 25,000

29 March 2003 20:10

NSW Waratahs	23–35	Queensland Reds

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 35,612

29 March 2003 17:00

Otago Highlanders	16–17	Canterbury Crusaders

Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 29,376[2]

29 March 2003 19:05

Wellington Hurricanes	24–14	Waikato Chiefs

Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 29,700[1]

29 March 2003 17:05

Golden Cats	23–29	Coastal Sharks

Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 48,000

4 April 2003 19:35

Otago Highlanders	22–11	Auckland Blues

Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 20,500

4 April 2003 20:00

Queensland Reds	23–26	Wellington Hurricanes

Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 22,450

5 April 2003 19:40

NSW Waratahs	34–31	Canterbury Crusaders

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 32,960

5 April 2003 15:00

Northern Bulls	24–27	Stormers

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: 50,000

6 April 2003 16:30

ACT Brumbies	55–31	Waikato Chiefs

Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 18,154

11 April 2003 19:35

Wellington Hurricanes	42–26	NSW Waratahs

Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 30,400[1]

12 April 2003 17:30

Waikato Chiefs	25–31	Coastal Sharks

Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 9,000

12 April 2003 19:35

Canterbury Crusaders	65–34	Golden Cats

Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 25,600

12 April 2003 15:00

Northern Bulls	28–56	Auckland Blues

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: 21,097

12 April 2003 17:05

Stormers	20–41	Queensland Reds

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 31,666

18 April 2003 19:35

Canterbury Crusaders	23–18	Coastal Sharks

Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 23,000

18 April 2003 19:40

ACT Brumbies	41–15	NSW Waratahs

Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 25,122

19 April 2003 17:30

Waikato Chiefs	40–9	Golden Cats

Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Attendance: 7,000

19 April 2003 19:35

Wellington Hurricanes	37–15	Otago Highlanders

Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth Attendance: 15,647

19 April 2003 15:00

Stormers	8–36	Auckland Blues

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 30,568

19 April 2003 17:05

Northern Bulls	39–19	Queensland Reds

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: 15,628

25 April 2003 19:35

Otago Highlanders	45–19	ACT Brumbies

Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 14,300

26 April 2003 19:35

Auckland Blues	25–16	Coastal Sharks

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 25,000

26 April 2003 19:40

Queensland Reds	41–13	Golden Cats

Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 14,000

26 April 2003 15:00

Northern Bulls	32–31	Canterbury Crusaders

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: 24,107

26 April 2003 17:05

Stormers	24–23	Waikato Chiefs

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 21,529

2 May 2003 19:35

Auckland Blues	33–9	Golden Cats

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 14,000

2 May 2003 19:10

Northern Bulls	29–26	Waikato Chiefs

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: 26,544

3 May 2003 17:30

Otago Highlanders	23–27	NSW Waratahs

Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 15,200

3 May 2003 19:35

Wellington Hurricanes	27–35	ACT Brumbies

Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 34,500[1]

3 May 2003 19:40

Queensland Reds	22–13	Coastal Sharks

Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 16,577

3 May 2003 15:00

Stormers	13–51	Canterbury Crusaders

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 27,516

9 May 2003 19:35

Auckland Blues	29–17	Wellington Hurricanes

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 45,000

9 May 2003 19:40

ACT Brumbies	21–28	Canterbury Crusaders

Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 25,279

10 May 2003 17:35

Queensland Reds	28–23	Otago Highlanders

Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 21,100

10 May 2003 19:40

NSW Waratahs	25–14	Waikato Chiefs

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 31,775

10 May 2003 15:00

Coastal Sharks	16–24	Northern Bulls

Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 35,000

10 May 2003 17:05

Stormers	27–21	Golden Cats

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 22,746

16 May 2003 19:35

Canterbury Crusaders	39–16	Wellington Hurricanes

Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 33,500

17 May 2003 19:35

Auckland Blues	42–21	ACT Brumbies

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 42,000

24 May 2003 19:35

Auckland Blues	21–17	Canterbury Crusaders
Try: Braid Howlett Con: Spencer (1/2) Pen: Spencer (3)		Try: Hammett (2) Ralph Con: Carter (0/1) Mehrtens (1/2)

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 45,000[3]

Blues

Crusaders

Team	Main stadium	Capacity	Total attendance	Average attendance	% Capacity
Blues	Eden Park	50,000	236,000	29,500	66%
Chiefs	Waikato Stadium	25,800	49,000	9,800	37%
Hurricanes	Westpac Stadium	34,500	145,847	24,307	77%
Crusaders	Jade Stadium	36,500	150,100	25,016	68%
Highlanders	Carisbrook	29,000	111,876	18,646	68%
Reds	Ballymore Stadium	18,000	92,127	18,425	100%
Brumbies	Canberra Stadium	25,011	107,681	21,536	86%
Waratahs	Sydney Football Stadium	44,000	183,128	30,521	69%
Sharks	Kings Park Stadium	52,000	154,300	30,860	59%
Bulls	Loftus Versfeld	51,762	137,376	27,475	53%
Cats	Ellis Park	62,567	150,174	25,029	46%
Stormers	Newlands Stadium	51,900	178,558	29,759	57%

• 2003 Super 12 season at www.rugby.com.au