Chris Jack tips forward showdown

If there's one Super 14 rugby team with the raw aggression to knock the Crusaders off their stride, lock Chris Jack reckons it's their opponents in the final on Saturday the Hurricanes.

Jack predicted a monstrous forward clash in the inaugural final at Jade Stadium, with the Hurricanes pack showing the sort of power that has marked their season in the 16-14 semifinal defeat of the New South Wales Waratahs on Friday.

Rather than watch that game, Jack was at the movies.

"But from what I hear they played well and showed a lot of courage," he said.

The intensity wasn't the same in the Crusaders' 35-15 defeat of the Bulls here on Saturday and Jack said his team were aware of the need to be ready for the confrontational style of a Hurricanes pack spearheaded by All Blacks loose forwards Rodney So'oialo, Jerry Collins and Chris Masoe.

"They've been bloody impressive. We were lucky when we played them to get away with the win (20-11 at Wellington in round eight)," Jack said.

"They made it difficult for us to get our ball and get on the front foot.

"They've been doing that all year. They've been counter-rucking well and putting a lot of pressure on opposition."

The Crusaders were forced to defend for long periods on Saturday but in-form fullback Leon MacDonald, who spent half the night returning poor Bulls kicks, was pleased with how they kept their shape.

"It was one of those tricky games. Everyone in New Zealand expected us to win and that's a tough position to be in," he said.

The Hurricanes are free of major injury problems but the Crusaders are likely to be without rising halfback star Andrew Ellis, who suffered medial damage to his knee on Saturday and was likely to be ruled out of contention for the final today.

- NZPA