Contrast in styles as Blues aim to run Crusaders
Defending champions Canterbury Crusaders meet this years top of the table Auckland Blues in the all-New Zealand final.
What makes it more intriguing is that the game also amounts to the key selection meet for All Black coach John Mitchell who Monday names his 26-strong squad for the first round of the upcoming Test season, which climaxes with the Rugby World Cup.
The Crusaders have won four titles in all and are making their fifth appearance in the final in the past six years.
The Blues, who took away the first two Super 12 titles in 1996 and 1997, are in the playoffs for the first time since 1998, when they lost the showdown to the Crusaders.
These finals provide an intriguing test of styles with Canterbury providing a methodical almost military like campaign in each game, ruthlessly moving the ball out of their half as soon as possible usually a hefty length of the field punt.
Dominated by All Blacks and imbued with a sense they have timed their build up perfectly and have a near perfect front row, the Crusaders are narrow favourites to win.
But for the Blues, who play a much more open, adventurous style of rugby, it is no foregone conclusion as their players show not only skill but also a youthful glee.
In one area of style both sides are united: they have very strong defensive strategies that suggest the final is likely to be a low-scoring affair.
Blues coach Peter Sloane has gone into the final with only one change to his starting 15; halfback David Gibson comes in for Steve Devine who was injured in last week's semi-final.
Controlling the game will be South African referee Andre Watson who will referee the Super 12 final for the fourth time in the last five years.
"I'm happy to let them play and I promise I'll do that," he said.
Watson, who has controlled 19 tests, including the 1999 World Cup final, believed Saturday's final would be a "cracker of a game".
"The Crusaders are always a good side. I was very impressed with their clinical, business-like performance against the Hurricanes."
He refereed last weeks Blues and ACT Brumbies semi-final and says the Blues played superbly.
"Theirs was a complete performance front and back.
"I hope the weather holds so the players in both teams are allowed to display their abundant skills."
In days gone by the business of selecting All Blacks used to involve contrived games such as Probables V Possibles for players to show their skills but the finals here are a true crucible.
And Mitchell is set to name his All Black squad next week featuring a welter of players from the final pundits suggest the front row clash Saturday will feature five All Blacks.
With both the Crusaders and Blues playing at a high level this year, a mix is probably on the agenda when the 26-strong squad is read out at New Zealand Rugby Union headquarters on Monday. Tana Umaga of the Wellington Hurricanes is the only certainty outside of the all-conquering Blues and Crusader squads.
Blues: D Howlett; R Gear, M Muliaina, J Rokocoko, S Tuitupou; C Spencer, D Gibson; X Rush (captain), D Braid, A Williams; A Macdonald, J Collins; K Meeuws, K Mealamu, D Manu.
Reserves: L Stensness, O Ai'i, C McGrath, M Tuiaili'i, B Mika, T Woodcock, D Witcombe.
Crusaders: (from) L MacDonald, M Vunibaka, C Ralph, J Maddock, D Carter, A Mauger, J Marshall; S Broomhall, R McCaw, N Maxwell, C Jack, R Thorne (captain), G Somerville, M Hammett, D Hewitt. Reserves: S Hamilton, A Mehrtens, B Hurst, S Robertson, B Thorn, G Feek, S McFarland.
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