Rico, you're a marked man

Try-starved Waratahs wing Lote Tuqiri aims to use "big game" prowess to expose the Crusaders' try-scoring machine Rico Gear in the final.

While the Waratahs are playing their first Super 12 final, Tuqiri can draw on the experience of having already played in two football title deciders - the 2000 National Rugby League (NRL) grand final and the 2003 Rugby World Cup final.

Gear, who returned to the Crusaders from the Blues this year, has since left an indelible mark on the Super 12 record book. He has scored 15 tries from 12 rounds and a semifinal this year - to be equal with former Wallabies back Joe Roff's return in 1997.

But Tuqiri, who at 102kg has 10kg on Gear, intends to bring the gifted right winger back to earth by testing his defence with some ball-running bursts.

"He is one of the form attacking wingers of the competition but he hasn't really been tested in defence," said Tuqiri, who has only scored five tries this season, the last coming against the Crusaders in round six when the Waratahs lost 33-27.

"No one has had a real crack at him. Hopefully I'll get my hands on the footy and ask questions of him."

Tuqiri knows what will be needed if he is to make the difference between the Waratahs winning and losing.

"It is going to be the guy who gives that extra two or three per cent who gets us over the line, the guy who busts the line, the guy who is chasing."

Tuqiri showed signs of that determination in the Waratahs' 23-13 semifinal win over the Bulls.

"It was a big game. Big pressure. Big plays. I step up to that sort of atmosphere. I've played big games before and wanted to lead by example."

Tuqiri has a fine record in finals, scoring in the 2000 NRL grand final for the Brisbane Broncos, who ran out 14-6 winners over the Sydney Roosters.

He also scored the opening try of the 2003 World Cup final against England, but said he would not rule out returning to league after the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.

Tuqiri said early points could put the Crusaders on the back foot.

"They have pretty much relied on scoring more points than the other team and haven't really thought about defence."

- NZPA