The Canterbury Crusaders plan to avoid being beaten finalists in the Super 12 for a third straight year on Saturday by remaining focused on playing their own style of rugby against the New South Wales Waratahs, second-rower Chris Jack says.
Both sides named unchanged sides on Thursday for the final at Christchurch’s Jade Stadium.
For the Crusaders — four-time winners and three-time beaten finalists in the competition’s nine-year history — the final is a familiar Super 12 conclusion. But the Waratahs, labelled perennial underperformers until this season, will be playing their first.
History and form suggest the Crusaders are firm favourites, but Waratah coach Ewen McKenzie has mischievously hinted the New Zealand side might be chokers after losing the last two consecutive finals.
Jack admitted to tension ahead of the match, but expressed confidence the All Black-packed side could continue the form that saw it steamroll Wellington’s Hurricanes 47-7 in last Friday’s semifinal.
”It’s no surprise any more to get out there and play a final, but again you’re still a bit anxious,” he said. ”The last two, we were underdogs and we learned we’ve just got to play our own game, not try to stop someone else’s. If we play our own game, we should be all right.”
Captain Richie McCaw said it is important the Crusaders click right from the start, in contrast to last year’s final loss to the Canberra-based Brumbies.
”There’s a bit of a lesson because we went out and didn’t play for the first 20 minutes. We got punished for every mistake we made,” McCaw said. ”We felt like we played well for 60 but missed the first 20, so I guess that’s the key, to not let it get away like that.”
McKenzie rejects any suggestion the final is a foregone conclusion.
”We wouldn’t be sitting here if we didn’t think we had a prospect of winning the game. We could have stayed at home and had the tickertape parade for Canterbury already,” he said. ”We figure we may as well turn up because we rate ourselves a chance.”
Crusaders coach Robbie Deans opted for continuity by choosing not to recall Casey Laulala at centre, instead rewarding Caleb Ralph with a second consecutive appearance in his preferred position after the semifinal victory. Fully recovered from a pulled hamstring, Laulala will be in the reserves.
Laulala is the stronger attacker, but Ralph’s defensive strength sees him remain in the midfield with Aaron Mauger to counter the Waratahs’ powerful pairing of Nathan Grey and Morgan Turinui.
McKenzie also chose to stick with a winning combination following last weekend’s 23-23 victory over South Africa’s Northern Bulls. Waratahs hooker Brendan Cannon and wing Lote Tuqiri will both join the side in Christchurch on Friday after remaining in Sydney to be with their pregnant partners. — Sapa-AFP
Teams
Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Caleb Ralph, Aaron Mauger, Scott Hamilton, Daniel Carter, Justin Marshall, Mose Tuiali’i, Richie McCaw (captain), Reuben Thorne, Ross Filipo, Chris Jack, Greg Somerville, Corey Flynn, Dave Hewett.
Reserves: Tone Kopelani, Campbell Johnstone, Sam Broomhall, Johnny Leo’o, Jamie Nutbrown, Andrew Mehrtens, Casey Laulala.
Waratahs: Mat Rogers, Peter Hewat, Morgan Turinui, Nathan Grey, Lote Tuqiri, Lachlan McKay, Chris Whitaker (captain), David Lyons, Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom, Daniel Vickerman, Justin Harrison, Alastair Baxter, Brendan Cannon, Matt Dunning.
Reserves: Adam Freier, Gareth Hardy, Alex Kanaar, Stephen Hoiles, Chris O’Young, Shaun Berne, Cameron Shepherd.