2006 Super 14 Final

The game was expected to be centred on the defence of both sides. The Hurricanes entered the final with an average points-against of 15 against New Zealand sides, the Crusaders were slightly better, with 14. The weather was not building up to be a huge factor, with clouds and rain forecast.[3] The Crusaders had finished the 2006 season at the top of the ladder, and defeated the Bulls to claim the home-final as they were the highest ranked side. The Hurricanes finished the season in second position, and defeated the New South Wales Waratahs to meet the Crusaders in the final.

The Crusaders went into the match with no reserve scrum-half after Andrew Ellis went off injured against the Bulls the week before. This meant if starting half Kevin Senio was injured, Cameron McIntyre would come on and Daniel Carter would move into scrum-half.

In one of the opening exchanges, Crusaders wing Rico Gear dropped the ball from a high kick, the resulting play lead to a Hurricanes penalty. David Holwell missed the penalty attempt, it being taken from 30m out and near the touchline. The Hurricanes scored first through a long range Piri Weepu penalty goal in the 12th minute. Daniel Carter had an opportunity to level the scores with a penalty kick, but missed as well. Carter did make two penalties, leaving the half time score 6–3 in favour of the home side. Weepu went down several times in the first half and was momentarily knocked out.

Holwell tied the match up four minutes after the interval, but Carter put the Crusaders back in front with a penalty two minutes later. Holwell was then substituted for Jimmy Gopperth, in what may have been Holwell's final first-class match. Gopperth kicked the Hurricanes' third penalty, once again evening up the scores. The Crusaders struck back though, with a try to Casey Laulala near the right hand upright. Carter converted, put the Crusaders out to a 16–9 lead. Carter then extended the lead out to 19–9 on the 69 minute mark, before Gopperth scored a penalty with ten minutes remaining. The match ended with the Hurricanes attempting to run it out from their own 22, needing a converted try. Reuben Thorne forced a turnover though, and hooker Corey Flynn kicked the ball into touch for the Crusaders' sixth Super rugby title, and first Super 14 title.

The following is one exchange:

• Commentator Grant Nisbett:"Toeava kicks off"

Colour Commentator Murray Mexted:"Not 10, is it?"

Nisbett:"I don't know" – This type of commentating was typical during the night.[13]

• "That one could've landed in the main street of New Brighton for all we know, Nisbo"- Tony Johnson[13]

The following is one exchange:

• "Not trying to steal your thunder, Nisbo, I just don't know whether you'll be able to see that from where you are." – Sideline Commentator Tony Johnson.

"I haven't got a clue, Tony, you're dead right. I cannot see the other side of the field." – Grant Nisbett[13]

• "The conditions were unbelievable to play in", – Crusaders captain, Richie McCaw[14]
• "I don't know what the crowd saw because it was tough out here. We tried to keep it simple. We knew we had to keep it tighter. There were a few mistakes with the slippery ball. It wasn't pretty but getting there was great. We kept our composure. We were really hungry on defence, we forced the turnovers and played it down their end of the paddock and that was the key we were able to convert pressure into points."- McCaw[14]
• "We're pretty disappointed with the result but we're very pleased with the way we went this year. Both teams defended well and it was pretty hard to crack but that try really cost us at the end. It was very difficult, you could hardly see the ball but I think both teams played pretty well considering the conditions." – Hurricanes captain, Rodney So'oialo[14]

• "Possibly 10 to 15 percent of the people around us left and we're obviously pretty disappointed, and I've heard a fair bit of talkback [radio] this morning with some very grumpy people." – Crusaders fan[13]
• "But not all the fans missed out. It turns out the lower down in the stands and closer to the touchline you were, the better." – Peter Lewis[13]
• "We actually ironically had a fairly good view, apart from the far third of the field, and then we could actually have a quick squiz at the TV." – Hurricanes fan[13]
• "But at the end of the day, there was no safety issues for players. The stadium was happy there were no safety issues for spectators." – CRFU CEO, Hamish Riach.[13]
• "It wasn't really the spectacle rugby fans had hoped or paid for – thick fog instead of football. Visibility was poor from all parts of the stadium, and for once it wasn't a factor of how much you'd paid for your seat, the action equally obscured for corporate high flyers and those in the cheap seats. Some turned and watched the stadium's giant screens, but that was only partially helpful. Others simply gave up altogether and went home or to nearby pubs to watch it on TV or listen to the radio" – Peter Lewis[13]