First-up clash for Crusaders a final revisited

Justin Marshall will play tonight after shaking off the effects of a virus that caused him to miss the Crusaders' three trial matches. Picture / Nigel Marple

Brumbies hooker Jeremy Paul believes the Crusaders may be susceptible in early Super 12 games, giving his side a golden opportunity to rack up a first-up season win at Canberra Stadium tonight.

With All Black players not returning to Super 12 training until the start of this month, Paul feels now is the best time to catch them.

"I think they will probably start off slow again this year," Paul said, "purely because the All Black guys who came back, I think, weren't allowed to go into training until the first of February.

"Now is as good a time as any to play them. It's definitely better to get them now than closer to finals time."

The All Black-laden Crusaders lost their opening two games last year before finding their feet, eventually going on to make the final, which they lost to the Brumbies.

They've shown mixed form in trials this year, dusting up Queensland but going down to NSW and the unfancied Highlanders.

While Paul considers them beatable now, he admits they have been the benchmark team since 2000.

"I think the way the Crusaders have played over the last five to six years has been the way everyone has wanted to play - very strong in defence and a very good attacking side who consistently plays well year in and year out," he said.

Paul is hoping to continue where he left off during the Wallabies' 2004 Spring tour of Europe, when he reclaimed his test hooking role from Brendan Cannon.

The 27-year-old said he had concentrated heavily on his lineout throwing - long a weakness in his game - working closely with Australian Institute of Sport skills acquisition specialist Damian Farrow.

Meanwhile, team-mate and captain Stirling Mortlock has been cleared to play after suffering from a virus for most of the week.

Mortlock, who missed last year's final against the Crusaders with a knee injury, trained mostly by himself today but declared himself a certain starter.

With Matt Giteau (broken hand) out, Mortlock has the added responsibility of goal-kicking.

The Crusaders had a light run before leaving New Zealand yesterday.

Halfback Justin Marshall will play after also shaking off the effects of a virus which caused him to miss the Crusaders' three trial matches.

Crusaders coach Robbie Deans said playing the season-opener in Brumbies' territory was as tough as they came.

"From our perspective it's going into the deep end, there's no two ways about that.

"The Brumbies in Canberra is as big a challenge as it gets.

"But that's a good thing, too, because if we can get up for it, it will really work for us. You have got to start from somewhere and have to play them all at some point in time."

* Canberra, today 9.05pm Mark Gerrard

Brumbies

Clyde Rathbone
S. Mortlock (c)
Gene Fairbanks
A. Ashley-Cooper
Stephen Larkham
George Gregan
Scott Fava
George Smith
Owen Finegan
Mark Chisholm
Radike Samo
Guy Shepherdson
Jeremy Paul
Nic Henderson

Crusaders

Daniel Carter
Rico Gear
Casey Laulala
Aaron Mauger
Caleb Ralph
Andrew Mehrtens
Justin Marshall
Sam Broomhall
Richie McCaw (c)
Reuben Thorne
Ross Filipo
Chris Jack
C. Johnstone
Corey Flynn
Greg Somerville


Reserves:

Brumbies: David Palavi, David Fitter, Alister Campbell, Tamaiti Horua, Matt Henjak, Sam Norton-Knight, Lenny Beckett.

Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Vilimoni Delasau, Jamie Nutbrown, Sam Harding, Kevin O'Neill, Dave Hewett, Tone Kopelani

- AAP