KEY POINTS:
A loose forward battle with all the hallmarks of a test appetiser looks set to decide tonight's Super 14 rugby final between the Crusaders and New South Wales Waratahs.
Crusaders captain Richie McCaw reckons the balanced Waratahs trio of Wycliff Palu, Rocky Elsom and Phil Waugh have been behind their remarkable improvement from 13th place last year and will be a challenge to contain at AMI Stadium.
All three are likely to wear green and gold, with potent ball-carriers Palu and Elsom sure to be key figures when Crusaders coach Robbie Deans leads the Wallabies into battle four times against the All Blacks this year.
McCaw and fellow-flanker Kieran Read could well be on the side of the New Zealand scrum, with the uncapped Read having made huge strides in this campaign. No 8 Mose Tuiali'i is on the fringe of a national recall such has been his dynamic form.
All Blacks skipper McCaw envisaged the breakdown and collision areas as potentially title-deciding.
"Rocky Elsom and Palu have been a big reason why they've got their game going in the last wee while. They're good ball carriers, they get round the park, and Phil Waugh is obviously into everything," McCaw said.
"When you get guys going across the advantage line, it allows the rest of the team to operate."
Waratahs captain and openside flanker Waugh had no qualms predicting the match would be of test match intensity.
"It's provincial level but most of the guys on the field have international experience," Waugh said.
"There's a lot of pride at provincial level so it's right up there. It's going to be a real passionate game."
Another likely to enter the loose forward trenches in the second spell is departing veteran Reuben Thorne.
The former Crusaders and All Blacks skipper, who has played in all eight of his team's previous finals appearances, was pressed on where he felt their advantage may lie.
"Maybe just with our finals experience," he said.
"But when you look at it man for man, it's going to be a pretty even contest."
It would be no surprise if Thorne and fellow Japan-bound stalwart Caleb Ralph have a few quiet words in the dressing room before kickoff.
Deans said replacing the pair would be hugely difficult.
On 12-year Crusader Thorne: "As a coach he's one less bloke you've got to worry about, which is good, because there's a lot to be done.
"He's one of those low maintenance characters."
On centurion Ralph, who isn't in the playing 22: "We've got plaques down in our sheds for blokes who play 100 games and there's very few outside backs... the reality is that people get broken more frequently on the outsides.
"He played 100 consecutive games and that, I would suggest, will never be done again."
Departing Waratahs mentor Ewen McKenzie could only admire the heritage and success of the Deans empire.
An upset win would cap McKenzie's five years in charge and provide proof that progress has been made under him.
"The Waratahs have had a meagre history compared to the Crusaders in terms of finals," McKenzie said.
"We don't feel we did enough in the last final here (in 2005).
"A lot of work has gone into recruitment and rebuilding and it's a chance to prove where we're at."
AMI Stadium was 1000 tickets short of selling out last night, with organisers anticipating a capacity crowd.
A number of statistics point to a Crusaders win, with a notable historical one being that the Crusaders have an 83 per cent winning record at home against all Australian teams while the Waratahs are at 31 per cent away to New Zealand sides.
But the most compelling record of all? Six titles to none.
- NZPA
