Just what have Hurricanes got against McCaw?

In what was a freakish final, there was the unresolved debate about the Hurricanes' attitude towards the Crusaders and new All Black captain Richie McCaw.

For the second game this season, it appeared the Hurricanes paid uncommon attention to McCaw, including some scuffles and late shots on the loose forward.

In the sides' pool match, Neemia Tialata tried to strangle McCaw, Jerry Collins bounced the ball off his head and on Saturday, Ma'a Nonu was a central figure in several incidents.

Asked if there were any issues between himself and the Hurricanes, McCaw looked very uneasy at a post-game press conference.

"I dunno mate," was about the best he could muster as well as saying it was nothing serious.

He blushed, flapped his arms and shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his body language imploring a different line of questioning.

McCaw and the Crusaders were livid after the treatment dished out by the Hurricanes and Tialata, in particular, in the pool game.

They chose not to voice their displeasure in public but round two on Saturday suggested the issue is still festering.

Maybe the Hurricanes thought the best way to rattle the champions was to unsettle their skipper.

Maybe it was a sign of something else.

Planned tactic or not, it did not help the Canes.

Coach Colin Cooper mourned his team's ill-discipline which cost penalties and missed tackles which conceded Casey Laulala's match-winning try.

Tialata's knee injury depowered the scrum and the Crusaders applied relentless pressure across the park.

For victorious coach Robbie Deans, the Super 14 triumph was the best in the franchise's history.

Shorn of seven All Blacks this season, the squad had shown great persistence and belief.

The competition was tougher than ever and a repeat title had been remarkable.

The Crusaders dominated the possession and territory statistics and consequently controlled the match.

It was, said Deans, a victory for the players' skills and tactics because they had to make all the decisions out on the field, the coaching staff could not see enough of the game to offer any directions.