David Leggat: Faces change but Crusaders' excellence doesn't

Someone raised the idea this week that it was a shame a New Zealand team was not playing a South African or Australian side in tonight's Super 14 final.

It might add a bit of extra spark to proceedings, went the argument, plus it would better reflect the international flavour of the competition.

Also it would unite the nation behind whichever franchise was doing battle with an overseas rival, somehow imagining the good folk of Auckland or Wellington would be cheering every Crusader tackle, run or kick.

With the greatest respect to that person, and in full recognition that it's every person's right to hold a personal opinion in this great democracy we live in, I say bollocks to that.

This Crusaders-Hurricanes final has the potential to be the most thrilling, certainly the most thunderous of all Super rugby finals.

It has the prospect of enough sting in it to forget the need for a South African or Australian element, in part as a result of events during their round robin clash several weeks ago.

But players in these teams know no other way than full steam ahead.

There is an All Black squad to be named tomorrow.

The national selectors may well watch the final while chewing their fingernails hoping key players get up from each titanic clash of bodies.

Over the past few days, there has been the faint whiff of tall poppyism in the air.

Comments along the lines of "wouldn't it be great if the Hurricanes win, because the Crusaders have been champions often enough".

Yes, it would be a fine thing, provided the Hurricanes earn the right to be called champions.

And they might, they're playing terrific rugby.

There are many New Zealand sportsmen who've felt this peculiar breeze on the back of their necks.

People like Sir Richard Hadlee, Martin Crowe, John Kirwan (if he was playing at Lancaster Park, and any Cantab worth his salt still calls it that, but I digress), John Walker, Russell Coutts, Danyon Loader all copped flak from small-minded New Zealanders.

Mostly it was because they were perceived as either having become too big for their boots or they had an aloof quality as they strove to make the most of their special talents.

Things aren't as grim as they were, but a feeling still persists that many people are suspicious of those who are different, and in this context read successful for different.

Those aforementioned sportsmen deserve admiration for the sporting heights they achieved.

So if the Crusaders win their sixth Super rugby title tonight, they will deserve our admiration for sustained excellence.

They have set the benchmark for the other four New Zealand franchises to reach.

Even if the Hurricanes win tonight, they'll still have some way to go.

Remember, only three teams have won a Super title.

The Blues have done it three times, the Brumbies twice.

To win the final, the Hurricanes must beat a champion team well versed in winning ways and who have been through the heat of a final several times.

Five times they have emerged from the oven with the spoils.

That much success is not achieved by luck, but by sustained excellence of the system overseen by Robbie Deans.

Certainly they've had good players, but they're using a tried and proven recipe.

The faces change but the instruction sheet does not.

Kickoff can't come soon enough. The champs and the pretenders. The cream of this year's crop.

So, a shame there's no Australia or South African team left?

Forget it. It's a New Zealand final.

And if the Hurricanes win it, be certain they'll have earned it.