2014 Super Rugby season

The 2014 Super Rugby season is the fourth season of the 15-team format for the Super Rugby competition involving teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. For sponsorship reasons, this competition is known as Asteron Life Super Rugby in Australia, Investec Super Rugby in New Zealand and Vodacom Super Rugby in South Africa. Including its past incarnations as Super 12 and Super 14, this is the 19th season for the Southern Hemisphere's premier transnational club competition. The conference games will take place every weekend from 15 February until 12 July (with a three-week break between rounds 16 and 17 for internationals games), followed by the finals series, culminating in the grand final on 2 August. The winners of the 2014 Super Rugby Season were the New South Wales Waratahs.

Competition format
Covering 24 weeks, the schedule features a total of 125 matches. The 15 teams are grouped by geography, labelled the Australian Conference, New Zealand Conference and the South African Conference. The regular season consists of two types of matches: The top team of each conference, plus the next top three teams in table points regardless of conference (wild card teams), will move on to the finals. The top two conference winners, based on table points, receive first-round byes. In the first round of the finals, the third conference winner is the #3 seed and hosts the wild card team with the worst record, and the best wild card team hosts the second-best wild card team. In the semi-finals, the #2 conference winner hosts the higher surviving seed from the first round, and the #1 conference winner hosts the other first-round winner. The final is hosted by the top remaining seed. The two-legged promotion/relegation play-off initially scheduled between the bottom team in the South African Conference and the Southern Kings was abolished following a meeting on 13 February 2014.
 * Internal Conference Matches – Each team plays the other four teams in the same conference twice, home and away.
 * Cross Conference Matches – Each team plays four teams of the other two conferences away, and four teams of the other two conferences home, thus missing out on two teams (one from each of the other conferences). Each team plays two home and two away games against teams from each of the other countries, making a total of eight cross conference games for each team. There will be a three-week international break between rounds 15 and 16 of the regular season.

Standings
Conference leaders and wildcard teams qualified to the finals. The top six teams qualified to the finals, with their final positions in the overall log determining their seedings in the finals. The third-placed team (i.e. the conference winners with the worst overall record) will host the sixth-placed team in the qualifiers, while the fourth-placed team will host the fifth-placed team. The top two teams (i.e. the two conference winners with the best overall record) will qualify directly to the semi-finals, where they will have home advantage against the two qualifier winners, with the top team hosting the qualifier winner with the lower seeding and the second-placed team hosting the qualifier winner with the higher seeding. The two semi-final winners will progress to the final, with the team with the higher seeding having home advantage.

Points breakdown: 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw, 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less, 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match.

Classification: Teams standings are calculated as follows: Conference Leaders (i.e. conference leaders will always be ranked in the top three), Log points, Number of games won, Overall points difference, Number of tries scored, Overall try difference

Key:
 * Qualified to the Semi-finals with home advantage
 * Qualified to the Qualifying final with home advantage
 * Qualified to the Qualifying final

Fixtures
The following fixtures were released 7 October 2013.

Player statistics
The following table contain points which have been scored in competitive games in the 2014 Super Rugby season.

Squad lists
The teams released the following squad lists:

Blues
Backs:
 * Luke Braid
 * Tom Donnelly
 * Charlie Faumuina
 * Jerome Kaino
 * Steve Luatua
 * Jordan Manihera
 * Tom McCartney
 * Keven Mealamu
 * Liaki Moli
 * Brendon O'Connor
 * James Parsons
 * Sam Prattley
 * Peter Saili
 * Angus Ta'avao
 * Hayden Triggs
 * Ofa Tu'ungafasi
 * Patrick Tuipulotu
 * Tony Woodcock
 * Did not play: Kane Barrett
 * Pita Ahki
 * Jamison Gibson-Park
 * Frank Halai
 * Bryn Hall
 * Simon Hickey
 * Tevita Li
 * Benji Marshall
 * George Moala
 * Albert Nikoro
 * Chris Noakes
 * Ma'a Nonu
 * Charles Piutau
 * Francis Saili
 * Lolagi Visinia
 * Piri Weepu
 * Ihaia West
 * Jackson Willison
 * Did not play: Baden Kerr
 * Sonatane Takulua
 * Coach: Sir John Kirwan

Brumbies
{{hlist| Backs:
 * Allan Alaalatoa
 * Ben Alexander
 * Fotu Auelua
 * Jarrad Butler
 * Sam Carter
 * Scott Fardy
 * Luke Holmes
 * Joshua Mann-Rea
 * Lachlan McCaffrey
 * Tom McVerry
 * Stephen Moore
 * Ben Mowen
 * Ruaidhri Murphy
 * David Pocock
 * Leon Power
 * Siliva Siliva
 * Scott Sio
 * Jordan Smiler
 * JP Smith
 * Ruan Smith
 * Tom Staniforth
 * Jack Whetton
 * Robbie Coleman
 * Lionel Cronjé
 * Michael Dowsett
 * Conrad Hoffmann
 * Rodney Iona
 * Tevita Kuridrani
 * Christian Lealiifano
 * Pat McCabe
 * Jesse Mogg
 * Clyde Rathbone
 * Andrew Smith
 * Henry Speight
 * Joe Tomane
 * Matt To'omua
 * Nic White
 * Did not play: Stephan van der Walt
 * Coach: Stephen Larkham

Bulls
Backs: }}
 * Jacques du Plessis
 * Jacques Engelbrecht
 * Dean Greyling
 * Grant Hattingh
 * Nico Janse van Rensburg
 * Frik Kirsten
 * Werner Kruger
 * Wiaan Liebenberg
 * Bandise Maku
 * Victor Matfield
 * Bongi Mbonambi
 * Morné Mellett
 * Marvin Orie
 * Dewald Potgieter
 * Jono Ross
 * Roelof Smit
 * Pierre Spies
 * Deon Stegmann
 * Flip van der Merwe
 * Marcel van der Merwe
 * Wimpie van der Walt
 * Callie Visagie
 * Paul Willemse
 * Did not play:
 * Arno Botha
 * David Bulbring
 * Bjorn Basson
 * Ulrich Beyers
 * JJ Engelbrecht
 * Louis Fouché
 * Francois Hougaard
 * Jesse Kriel
 * Sampie Mastriet
 * Akona Ndungane
 * Rudy Paige
 * Handré Pollard
 * Jacques-Louis Potgieter
 * Jan Serfontein
 * William Small-Smith
 * Piet van Zyl
 * Jurgen Visser
 * Did not play:
 * Clayton Blommetjies
 * Travis Ismaiel
 * Waylon Murray
 * Coach: Frans Ludeke

Cheetahs
Backs:
 * Ryno Barnes
 * Heinrich Brüssow
 * Jean Cook
 * Luan de Bruin
 * Lood de Jager
 * Rossouw de Klerk
 * Andries Ferreira
 * Carel Greeff
 * Lappies Labuschagné
 * Ligtoring Landman
 * Hilton Lobberts
 * Oupa Mohojé
 * Trevor Nyakane
 * Caylib Oosthuizen
 * Coenie Oosthuizen
 * Boom Prinsloo
 * Boela Serfontein
 * Kevin Stevens
 * Adriaan Strauss
 * Francois Uys
 * Philip van der Walt
 * Maks van Dyk
 * Torsten van Jaarsveld
 * Henco Venter
 * Waltie Vermeulen
 * Carl Wegner
 * Did not play:
 * Martin Bezuidenhout
 * Hercú Liebenberg
 * Nick Schonert
 * Rayno Benjamin
 * Hennie Daniller
 * Johan Goosen
 * Cornal Hendricks
 * Willie le Roux
 * Tian Meyer
 * Howard Mnisi
 * Sarel Pretorius
 * Raymond Rhule
 * Johann Sadie
 * Riaan Smit
 * Francois Venter
 * Shaun Venter
 * Elgar Watts
 * Did not play:
 * Renier Botha
 * Francois Brummer
 * Rocco Jansen
 * Piet Lindeque
 * Kevin Luiters
 * Gouws Prinsloo
 * Coach: Naka Drotské

Chiefs
Backs:
 * Ben Afeaki
 * Nick Barrett
 * Sam Cane
 * Nick Crosswell
 * Ross Filipo
 * Michael Fitzgerald
 * Nathan Harris
 * Josh Hohneck
 * Tevita Koloamatangi
 * Tanerau Latimer
 * Jamie Mackintosh
 * Pauliasi Manu
 * Rhys Marshall
 * Liam Messam
 * Brodie Retallick
 * Mahonri Schwalger
 * Liam Squire
 * Matt Symons
 * Ben Tameifuna
 * Kane Thompson
 * Did not play:
 * Hika Elliot
 * Bundee Aki
 * Gareth Anscombe
 * Aaron Cruden
 * Robbie Fruean
 * Andrew Horrell
 * Tawera Kerr-Barlow
 * Anton Lienert-Brown
 * James Lowe
 * Tom Marshall
 * Mils Muliaina
 * Tim Nanai-Williams
 * Charlie Ngatai
 * Jordan Payne
 * Augustine Pulu
 * Dwayne Sweeney
 * Asaeli Tikoirotuma
 * Brad Weber
 * Did not play:
 * Robbie Robinson
 * Coach: Dave Rennie

Crusaders
Backs:
 * Scott Barrett
 * Dominic Bird
 * Wyatt Crockett
 * Corey Flynn
 * Owen Franks
 * Ben Funnell
 * Nepo Laulala
 * Daniel Lienert-Brown
 * Richie McCaw
 * Joe Moody
 * Tim Perry
 * Kieran Read
 * Luke Romano
 * Jordan Taufua
 * Codie Taylor
 * Matt Todd
 * Jimmy Tupou
 * George Whitelock
 * Luke Whitelock
 * Sam Whitelock
 * Tyler Bleyendaal
 * Dan Carter
 * Ryan Crotty
 * Israel Dagg
 * Mitchell Drummond
 * Andy Ellis
 * Kieron Fonotia
 * Willi Heinz
 * Rey Lee-Lo
 * Johnny McNicholl
 * Nemani Nadolo
 * Colin Slade
 * Tom Taylor
 * Rob Thompson
 * Nafi Tuitavake
 * Adam Whitelock
 * Did not play:
 * Zac Guildford
 * Coach: Todd Blackadder

Western Force
Backs:
 * Chris Alcock
 * Phoenix Battye
 * Nathan Charles
 * Adam Coleman
 * Angus Cottrell
 * Pekahou Cowan
 * Tetera Faulkner
 * Matt Hodgson
 * Ryan Hodson
 * Ollie Hoskins
 * Kieran Longbottom
 * Ben McCalman
 * Hugh McMeniman
 * Brynard Stander
 * Wilhelm Steenkamp
 * Heath Tessmann
 * Francois van Wyk
 * Sam Wykes
 * Did not play:
 * Chris Heiberg
 * Salesi Manu
 * Marcel Brache
 * Luke Burton
 * Nick Cummins
 * Patrick Dellit
 * Sias Ebersohn
 * Kyle Godwin
 * Dane Haylett-Petty
 * Jayden Hayward
 * Zack Holmes
 * Dillyn Leyds
 * Alby Mathewson
 * Luke Morahan
 * Ian Prior
 * Junior Rasolea
 * Chris Tuatara-Morrison
 * Justin Turner
 * Did not play:
 * Ed Stubbs
 * Coach: Michael Foley

Highlanders
Backs:
 * Lee Allan
 * Sam Anderson-Heather
 * Josh Bekhuis
 * Shane Christie
 * Liam Coltman
 * Matías Díaz
 * Elliot Dixon
 * Gareth Evans
 * Ma'afu Fia
 * Tom Franklin
 * Kane Hames
 * John Hardie
 * Jarrad Hoeata
 * TJ Ioane
 * Chris King
 * JP Koen
 * Nasi Manu
 * Craig Millar
 * Brayden Mitchell
 * Ged Robinson
 * Brad Thorn
 * Joe Wheeler
 * Did not play:
 * Aki Seiuli
 * Kurt Baker
 * Richard Buckman
 * Phil Burleigh
 * Jason Emery
 * Malakai Fekitoa
 * Patrick Osborne
 * Hayden Parker
 * Trent Renata
 * Aaron Smith
 * Ben Smith
 * Lima Sopoaga
 * Winston Stanley
 * Fumiaki Tanaka
 * Shaun Treeby
 * Did not play:
 * Willie Ripia
 * Frae Wilson
 * Coach: Jamie Joseph

Hurricanes
Backs:
 * Mark Abbott
 * James Broadhurst
 * Dane Coles
 * Ash Dixon
 * Brendon Edmonds
 * Chris Eves
 * Ben Franks
 * Reggie Goodes
 * Adam Hill
 * Jack Lam
 * Faifili Levave
 * Motu Matu'u
 * Mark Reddish
 * Ardie Savea
 * John Schwalger
 * Brad Shields
 * Blade Thomson
 * Jeremy Thrush
 * Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
 * Victor Vito
 * Did not play:
 * Eric Sione
 * Marty Banks
 * Beauden Barrett
 * Tim Bateman
 * Billy Guyton
 * Cory Jane
 * Alapati Leiua
 * James Marshall
 * Hadleigh Parkes
 * TJ Perenara
 * Matt Proctor
 * Julian Savea
 * Conrad Smith
 * Chris Smylie
 * Andre Taylor
 * Cardiff Vaega
 * Coach: Mark Hammett

Lions
Backs:
 * Willie Britz
 * Robbie Coetzee
 * Stephan de Wit
 * Ruan Dreyer
 * Corné Fourie
 * Jaco Kriel
 * MB Lusaseni
 * Charles Marais
 * Malcolm Marx
 * Rudi Mathee
 * Derick Minnie
 * Franco Mostert
 * Martin Muller
 * Mark Pretorius
 * Julian Redelinghuys
 * Warwick Tecklenburg
 * Akker van der Merwe
 * Franco van der Merwe
 * Schalk van der Merwe
 * Jacques van Rooyen
 * Willie Wepener
 * Warren Whiteley
 * Marnitz Boshoff
 * Chrysander Botha
 * Andries Coetzee
 * Ruan Combrinck
 * Ross Cronjé
 * Faf de Klerk
 * Stokkies Hanekom
 * Alwyn Hollenbach
 * Elton Jantjies
 * JW Jonker
 * Lionel Mapoe
 * Courtnall Skosan
 * Deon van Rensburg
 * Coenie van Wyk
 * Anthony Volmink
 * Stefan Watermeyer
 * Did not play:
 * Michael Bondesio
 * Deon Helberg
 * Coach: Johan Ackermann

Rebels
Backs:
 * Cruze Ah-Nau
 * Paul Alo-Emile
 * Colby Fainga'a
 * Steve Fualau
 * Scott Fuglistaller
 * Scott Higginbotham
 * Shota Horie
 * Sam Jeffries
 * Luke Jones
 * Max Lahiff
 * Patrick Leafa
 * Sean McMahon
 * Cadeyrn Neville
 * Hugh Pyle
 * Jordy Reid
 * Toby Smith
 * Lopeti Timani
 * Laurie Weeks
 * Did not play:
 * Eddie Aholelei
 * Tom Sexton
 * Chris Thomson
 * Luke Burgess
 * Jack Debreczeni
 * Tamati Ellison
 * Tom English
 * Lalakai Foketi
 * Bryce Hegarty
 * Josh Holmes
 * Mitch Inman
 * Tom Kingston
 * Ben Meehan
 * Lachlan Mitchell
 * Angus Roberts
 * Alex Rokobaro
 * Male Sa'u
 * Nic Stirzaker
 * Telusa Veainu
 * Jason Woodward
 * Coach: Tony McGahan

Reds
Backs:
 * Albert Anae
 * Curtis Browning
 * Tim Buchanan
 * Ben Daley
 * Saia Fainga'a
 * Liam Gill
 * James Hanson
 * Greg Holmes
 * James Horwill
 * David McDuling
 * Ed O'Donoghue
 * Jono Owen
 * Eddie Quirk
 * Beau Robinson
 * Jake Schatz
 * Rob Simmons
 * James Slipper
 * Did not play:
 * Sef Fa'agase
 * Pettowa Paraka
 * Andrew Ready
 * Quade Cooper
 * Rod Davies
 * Anthony Fainga'a
 * Chris Feauai-Sautia
 * Nick Frisby
 * Scott Gale
 * Will Genia
 * Mike Harris
 * Sam Johnson
 * Samu Kerevi
 * Chris Kuridrani
 * Ben Lucas
 * Jonah Placid
 * Dom Shipperley
 * Ben Tapuai
 * JJ Taulagi
 * Aidan Toua
 * Lachlan Turner
 * Coach: Richard Graham

Sharks
Backs:
 * Lourens Adriaanse
 * Willem Alberts
 * Jacques Botes
 * Anton Bresler
 * Dale Chadwick
 * Marcell Coetzee
 * Kyle Cooper
 * Keegan Daniel
 * Jean Deysel
 * Bismarck du Plessis
 * Jannie du Plessis
 * Pieter-Steph du Toit
 * Thomas du Toit
 * Wiehahn Herbst
 * Ryan Kankowski
 * Stephan Lewies
 * Franco Marais
 * Tendai Mtawarira
 * Tera Mtembu
 * Etienne Oosthuizen
 * Did not play:
 * Monde Hadebe
 * Peet Marais
 * Tonderai Chavhanga
 * André Esterhuizen
 * Paul Jordaan
 * Patrick Lambie
 * SP Marais
 * Charl McLeod
 * Lwazi Mvovo
 * Odwa Ndungane
 * JP Pietersen
 * Cobus Reinach
 * S'bura Sithole
 * François Steyn
 * Tim Swiel
 * Stefan Ungerer
 * Jaco van Tonder
 * Heimar Williams
 * Fred Zeilinga
 * Did not play:
 * Tyler Fisher
 * Hansie Graaff
 * Coach: Jake White

Stormers
Backs:
 * Ruan Botha
 * Schalk Burger
 * Manuel Carizza
 * Nizaam Carr
 * Pat Cilliers
 * Stephan Coetzee
 * Martin Dreyer
 * Rynhardt Elstadt
 * Deon Fourie
 * Brok Harris
 * Oli Kebble
 * Rohan Kitshoff
 * Steven Kitshoff
 * Jean Kleyn
 * Siya Kolisi
 * Tiaan Liebenberg
 * Frans Malherbe
 * Sikhumbuzo Notshe
 * Scarra Ntubeni
 * Michael Rhodes
 * Sti Sithole
 * De Kock Steenkamp
 * Jurie van Vuuren
 * Alistair Vermaak
 * Duane Vermeulen
 * Mike Willemse
 * Did not play:
 * Eben Etzebeth
 * Tazz Fuzani
 * Gio Aplon
 * Demetri Catrakilis
 * Kurt Coleman
 * Damian de Allende
 * Juan de Jongh
 * Jean de Villiers
 * Ryno Eksteen
 * Dylon Frylinck
 * Peter Grant
 * Nic Groom
 * Cheslin Kolbe
 * Louis Schreuder
 * Seabelo Senatla
 * Sailosi Tagicakibau
 * Jaco Taute
 * Michael van der Spuy
 * Kobus van Wyk
 * Devon Williams
 * Did not play: Godlen Masimla
 * Gary van Aswegen
 * Coach: Allister Coetzee

Waratahs
Backs:
 * Michael Alaalatoa
 * Mitchell Chapman
 * Dave Dennis
 * Kane Douglas
 * Tala Gray
 * Stephen Hoiles
 * Michael Hooper
 * Sekope Kepu
 * Tolu Latu
 * Pat McCutcheon
 * Wycliff Palu
 * Tatafu Polota-Nau
 * Jacques Potgieter
 * Hugh Roach
 * Benn Robinson
 * Paddy Ryan
 * Will Skelton
 * Jeremy Tilse
 * Did not play:
 * Jed Holloway
 * Alofa Alofa
 * Adam Ashley-Cooper
 * Kurtley Beale
 * Peter Betham
 * Matthew Carraro
 * Cam Crawford
 * Israel Folau
 * Bernard Foley
 * Rob Horne
 * Jono Lance
 * Brendan McKibbin
 * Taqele Naiyaravoro
 * Nick Phipps
 * Did not play: Michael Hodge
 * Ben Volavola
 * Coach: Michael Cheika

Referees
The following refereeing panel was appointed by SANZAR for the 2014 Super Rugby season:

Prior to Round 7, Jason Jaftha, James Leckie, Francisco Pastrana and Lourens van der Merwe were removed from the refereeing panel, Jaftha due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury that would see him miss four months of the season and the latter three in a move by SANZAR to recognise "who has performed to expectation and who has not."