The weirdest records in the Super Rugby record book

Jamie Wall picks out some anomalies in the record books after 21 seasons of Super Rugby.

Seeing names like Doug Howlett and Joe Roff atop the all-time and season try scoring lists comes as no surprise – after all, they went on to have long and distinguished international careers. But what the guy who scored 50 points in a game? Or a match with an aggregate of 137 points? Here’s a look at a few of the weirder Super Rugby records.

Most points in a match: Gavin Lawless (50, vs Highlanders, Kings Park, 1997)

The Sharks were blessed with some real talent in the early stages of Super Rugby, especially at fullback. Gavin Lawless made his first ever game for the side count when he knocked up Super Rugby's only individual half-century against the Highlanders in 1997. Lawless’ four tries in the game are still tied for most all-time too. Despite this record-breaking start, his career never kicked on in pro rugby – instead, he moved to Australia to eventually become the head of an energy management consulting firm. Judging by this interview, he enjoys talking about that far more than the day he set a Super Rugby record.

Highest aggregate points in a game: 137 (Chiefs 72 Lions 65, Ellis Park, 2010)

No, they didn’t decide to play basketball instead of rugby. In 2010, the Chiefs and Lions combined for the one game that sums up what every Northern Hemisphere stooge thinks is wrong with Super Rugby: 137 points, 18 tries, hattricks to players on either side and distinct aversion to defence were all on display at Ellis Park. Both teams probably had a lot of uncomfortable silences behind their own posts – surely by the 8th time each both captains would’ve run out of things to say. Lions skipper Cobus Grobelaar was quoted post-match, saying “our one-on-one tackling let us down a bit.” No shit!

2001 and 2006 season top try scorers: Aseia Tuilevu and Lome Fa’atau

One of the reasons New Zealand has dominated the era of pro rugby is the fact that you have to play in New Zealand to be eligible for the All Blacks. Which makes Fijian Tuilevu and Samoan Fa’atau’s season-topping try-scoring feats in 2001 and 2006 pretty remarkable, when you consider the amount of decent talent they had to keep out to even make the Highlanders and Hurricanes squads.

Worst season points differential: -402 (Kings, 2016)

Picking on the Kings for being crap is about as easy as watching your money disappear at Eden Park, but given they are likely facing the chop from the competition (again) at the end of this season it’s only fair to acknowledge the only record they’re ever likely to have. One bright spot: their awful record in 2016 wasn’t quite bad enough to give them the wooden spoon, that honour went to the Sunwolves.

Most points in a match (team): Crusaders 96 Waratahs 19 (Lancaster Park, 2002)

OK, so this one isn’t particularly obscure – it’s an often-replayed highlight reel in New Zealand. What people may not remember, however, is that this wasn’t the mismatch on paper that it ended up being on the field. Widely tipped to be a preview of the final, this match took place between the top two sides in the competition in the final week of the regular season. The Crusaders were unbeaten going in, but the Tahs were stacked with Wallabies (who were actually good back then – 2002 was the last year they’d hold the Bledisloe Cup) and sat second on the table. The resulting demolition was completely unforeseen by even the most one-eyed Cantabrian (there's no shortage of them) could envisage. It effectively wrecked the Waratahs’ finals chances, and they were thrashed 51-10 on their own home ground by the Brumbies in the semifinal the following weekend.