2015 Super Rugby Match of the Year

We had quite a few derbies that grabbed our attention in this year’s Super Rugby competition. New Zealand, as always, gave us their fair share of quality displays, especially the match between the Chiefs and the Hurricanes. On the local front we thought the clash between the Bulls and the Lions at Loftus was right up there in terms of quality while the Stormers and Lions had us on the edge of our seats at least twice throughout the competition. Even the Aussies surprised everyone when their Reds and Rebels shared 75 points between them in 80 minutes.

Our match of the year however, was a cross-conference clash. This is partly because it was genuinely good, but also because it has sentimental value for all South Africans.

The Lions, having just returned from their best-ever overseas tour, faced the Highlanders in Johannesburg. The whole stadium was full of expectation as their heroes ran out, but the sizable crowd soon fell into stunned silence as the visitors carved out a 20-3 lead at halftime. Were the Lions returning to their old mediocre form now that they were back home? Was their overseas tour just a fluke?

After halftime something changed. The home side found inspiration (and a new halfback pairing), and in the second 40 they were unstoppable. Faf de Klerk and Elton Jantjies turned the game on its head as the Lions made a 25-point comeback to run out 28-23 winners. Johannesburg rejoiced.