Wynne Gray: Sense of deja vu about Crusaders' season

Only a few seasons back the Crusaders supplied all but Jonah Lomu for an All Black test against Ireland.

No matter the Crusaders' superiority during their 2002 campaign, it was still a remarkable selection. The Crusaders had gone through pool play undefeated before they dealt to the Highlanders and Brumbies on the way to their fourth Super title.

It was the perfect Crusade, a superb response after the side slid to 10th the year before. As a consequence, they dominated All Black squads that season.

One of that group was young flanker Richie McCaw.

He had a bit part in a couple of matches for the Crusaders the previous year, scorched through the NPC and into the All Blacks for their end-of-year tour.

McCaw played his first full Super campaign in 2002. That was also a year when the Waratahs made their mark, although they were bashed mercilessly by the Crusaders and eventually thumped by the Brumbies in an all-Australian semifinal.

The Waratahs wavered and then rediscovered their momentum last season while the Crusaders have stayed near the top of the competition. These sides meet again tonight in Christchurch.

The Waratahs shade the Crusaders by a point but they have played one extra game and have lost to the Bulls in Pretoria.

The Crusaders are unbeaten after seven games and a win tonight will provoke discussion about whether they can emulate their unbeaten 2002 record. Even if they manage that feat they will not dominate the All Blacks as they did in 2002.

Not when there are players like Mils Muliaina, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo, Jerry Collins, Jason Eaton, James Ryan, Carl Hayman and Tony Woodcock about.

But the Crusaders have methods, a style and a number of occasional or fringe test players who will interest the All Black selectors.

It is six weeks before the playoffs start, a time when test selectors take extra notice of how players deal with the pressure and deal with the burden of semifinal expectation.

Until then, a match like tonight is the next best-thing. Top sides chockful of quality players, transtasman rivalry with the victor likely to forge ahead to a home semifinal.

McCaw has risen to captain the Crusaders while the Waratahs have climbed to be their toughest challenger.

The Super 14 is over the halfway hump, the All Black selectors will have ideas about new or used faces who have impressed consistently, players to monitor, discuss and compare.

After a strenuous two days of high-performance coaching seminars in Wellington, dissecting tonight's match will be a refreshing contrast for Graham Henry, Wayne Smith, Steve Hansen and Sir Brian Lochore.

The leadup to the match has been dominated by arguments about McCaw's antics at the breakdown and whether he receives extra latitude from the referees.

It would have been very un-Australian and remiss of Waratahs flanker Phil Waugh had he not seized on the topic.

He claimed McCaw was a serial offender and had a history of getting away with infringements others were penalised for.

Waugh should have just phoned referee Jonathan Kaplan with his concerns.

McCaw's health and welfare will be the only concern for the All Black panel.

Elsewhere they will inspect and wait for reports from scrum guru Mike Cron about the front-row battles.

Greg Somerville missed the Grand Slam tour and his continued education at loosehead prop is an important cog in the backup crew.

Mose Tuiali'i is a strong ball-carrier at No 8 whose all-round game is improving.

His discipline, scrum direction and distribution will be noted while his general play will be compared to David Lyons. Two players in the backline could enhance their test squad chances if they can back up their robust displays against the Hurricanes.

Halfback Andrew Ellis is an emerging talent.

His delivery, powerful cover defence and self-assurance are evidence of a burgeoning star. It will be fascinating to see if he pushes on in the Crusaders' run to the playoffs?

Piri Weepu was picked at an early age and Ellis could yet force a similar selection in an enlarged squad.

So too a forgotten man of All Black rugby, Caleb Ralph.

He is nothing flashy but his error count is low, he is durable and has shown his versatility at centre this season. If there are further midfield injuries, do not discount his return.