Final Preview - Crusaders v Waratahs

What a way to bring the curtain down on the highly entertaining and very successful 2005 Super 12 series. The Final between the Crusaders and the Waratahs at Jade Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday will surely be an epic finale to what has been ten years of great interstate/provincial rugby.

Christchurch Captains: Richie McCaw and Chris Whitaker

Of course, next year we move on to the Super 14, and only time will tell whether that will have the same impact and entertainment value.

But for now we have one last game of Super 12 rugby and it is fitting that two of the most entertaining teams of the last decade will bring the curtain down on this competition.

Finals, by nature, tend not to be free-flowing affairs. But this one will be an epic encounter of Test-match proportions.

Crusaders coach Robbie Deans is the first to acknowledge that the intensity will be up there with a Test match - not just because of the high number of internationals in both sides, but also because of the occasion.

"It's the closest thing to a test match that you'll encounter without a doubt," Deans said. "The intensity is up a notch from a round-robin fixture - and similar to a Test match as there is no next week."

This is, of course, the Waratahs' first ever Super 12 Final. They have finally made good on all those promises in years gone by - those many seasons when they got off to as flyer, only to selfdestruct midway through.

This year they did not choke. They now have a sense of self-belief, strong leadership in Chris Whitaker and some astute tactical decision makers in the backline.

Questions will be asked about their tight forwards, especially after the Bulls dominated them last week.

But coach Ewen McKenzie has proved to be very inventive and you can bet the 'Tahs pack will be competitive.

The Crusaders this year again displayed why they are the most successful team in the history of Super 12 rugby.

Having won four titles and appeared in six of the last seven Finals, the Crusaders will make their seventh appearance in a Final.

They arrived here as a team with prodigious try-scoring ability, a team that is particularly punishing when they get turnover ball and they often blitz teams with their ability to counter from deep.

It is thus not surprising to see them finish the regular season on top of the try-scoring and point scoring tables.

The Waratahs have a proud defensive record. They have conceded the least number of tries this year, which is why they are in the Final.

Finals are about soaking up the pressure and that is when real class comes through.

Deans feels his team has the ability and class to add one more title to the four they already have.

"These guys don't see it [the Final] as pressure really. They'd rather have it than not have it so to that end it's not pressure, it's a fantastic opportunity."

The Crusaders, like the 'Tahs, this week named an unchanged line-up.

Deans said continuity was the main factor in the decision to stay with the victorious side from the semi-final.

"Rather than adjust the combinations we felt it was prudent just to carry on."

The Crusaders have, of course, lost in the Final in the last two years. But captain Richie McCaw feels they have learnt from the mistakes that cost them in those two Finals.

He felt his team only played 60 minutes of rugby in their loss to the Brumbies last year.

"We felt like we did that [played well] for 60, but we missed the first 20. I guess that's the key to not let it get away from you like that."

Not only is this the last Super 12 match, but a number of players will also move on after this - adding to the lustre of the occasion.

Waratahs who will be heading abroad are veterans Nathan Grey (Kyuden, Japan) and Justin Harrison (Ulster, Ireland), while Brendan Cannon, Lachlan MacKay, Gareth Hardy and Cameron Shepherd will all link with Perth's Super 14 team, the Western Force.

The Crusaders' evergreen All Black scrum-half Justin Marshall has signed with English club Leeds, while prop Dave Hewett will link with Edinburgh. The 2002 Super 12-winning captain Reuben Thorne is also likely to wind up his career in Cardiff.

Players to watch:

For the Crusaders: There are only two players in the Crusaders' starting XV that have not played Test rugby. Scott Hamilton, on the left wing, is one of them. This versatile outside back, nicknamed "Bubbles" because of his personality, is said to be close to getting that first Test cap. He is equally at home on the wing or at fullback and his tall frame (1,90m) and speed makes him difficult to stop.

For the Waratahs: The veteran Wallaby lock Justin Harrison often manages to get "up the noses" of his opponents. But on Saturday he will have a far more important task - marking All Black Chris Jack and helping the Waratahs stand up to what is sure to be a physical onslaught up front. The Crusaders don't get distracted easily, so Harrison will have to play rugby, rather that play the opponent.

Head-to-head: Justin Marshall (Crusaders) versus Chris Whitaker (Waratahs): Two of the greatest scrum-halves in world rugby and two players who will no doubt have a big influence on their respective teams' prospects. Marshall has been playing some of the best rugby of his career. While Whitaker has been less visual, he has been equally influential.

Previous results:
2005: In Sydney: The Crusaders won 33-27
2004: Christchurch: The Waratahs won 43-19
2003: In Sydney: The Waratahs won 34-31
2002: In Christchurch: The Crusaders won 96-19
2001: In Sydney: The Waratahs won 25-22
2000: In Christchurch: The Crusaders won 22-13
1999: In Sydney: The Crusaders won 38-22
1998: In Christchurch: The Crusaders won 33-12
1997: In Sydney: The Waratahs won 25-8
1996: In Christchurch: The Crusaders 21-16

How they reached the Final:

The Crusaders - Won 10, Lost 2:
Week One: lost to the Brumbies 32-21
Week Two: bt the Chiefs 50-18
Week Three: bt the Reds 59-24
Week Four: bt the Blues 41-19
Week Five: Bye
Week Six: bt the Waratahs 33-27
Week Seven: lost to the Bulls 35-20
Week Eight: bt the Stormers 51-23
Week Nine: bt the Cats 40-36
Week Ten: bt the Sharks 77-34
Week Eleven: bt the Highlanders 27-13
Week Twelve: bt the Hurricanes 40-20
Semi-final: bt Hurricanes 47-7

Waratahs - Won 10, Lost 2:
Week One: bt the Chiefs 25-7
Week Two: bt the Sharks 36-13
Week Three: bt the Cats 40-19
Week Four: bt the Stormers 25-10
Week Five: bt the Bulls 42-12
Week Six: lost to Crusaders 33-27
Week Seven: lost to the Hurricanes 26-24
Week Eight: bt the Brumbies 10-6
Week Nine: Bye
Week Ten: bt the Highlanders 41-20
Week Eleven: bt the Reds 27-8
Week Twelve: bt the Blues 25-20
Semi-final: bt the Bulls 23-13

Prediction: To call a Final is always tough, but there's no doubting the class of this Crusaders team. They should win, but it won't be by much more than 10 points.

The teams:

Crusaders: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Caleb Ralph, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Scott Hamilton, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Mose Tuiali'i, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Reuben Thorne, 5 Ross Filipo, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Dave Hewett.
Replacements: 16 Tone Kopelani, 17 Campbell Johnstone, 18 Sam Broomhall, 19 Johnny Leo'o, 20 Jamie Nutbrown, 21 Andrew Mehrtens, 22 Casey Laulala.

Waratahs: 15 Mat Rogers, 14 Peter Hewat, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Nathan Grey, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Lachlan MacKay, 9 Chris Whitaker (captain), 8 David Lyons, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Daniel Vickerman, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Alastair Baxter, 2 Brendan Cannon, 1 Matt Dunning.
Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Gareth Hardy, 18 Alex Kanaar, 19 Stephen Hoiles, 20 Chris O'Young, 21 Shaun Berne, 22 Cameron Shepherd.

Date: Saturday, May 28
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Venue: Jade Stadium, Christchurch
Conditions: Odd spot of rain, then fine. Gusty westerly winds. High 19ºC, low 8ºC
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa), Tappe Henning (South Africa)
Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)

By Jan de Koning