Islands collide as Blues tackle Crusaders

THE Super 12’s two deadliest rivals, the Auckland Blues and Canterbury Crusaders, will lock horns in today’s final of the southern hemisphere’s annual regional championship.

The two New Zealand teams, who have won six of the previous seven Super 12 titles, are already fierce opponents but there is even more at stake this year with the World Cup in Australia less than five months away.

With players from both teams desperate to push their claims for selection in the All Black World Cup squad, the Eden Park final has all the makings of a classic encounter.