There will be global indifference felt towards the Waratahs' maiden title but massive satisfaction that Richie McCaw was cast as the villain in an epic final.

An ecstatic Adam Ashley-Cooper dubbed it "100 per cent the greatest moment in my rugby career" .

Evidently the Waratahs didn't hand any advantage to the Crusaders by shifting the final to Olympic Park.

The Crusaders have been given a heroes' welcome following a heartbreaking last-minute loss in the Super Rugby final in Sydney.

The irony of Crusaders legend Andrew Mehrtens playing a significant role in the downfall of his old team was not lost on Waratahs coach Michael Cheika.

Analysis of the Crusaders' 2014 Super Rugby campaign will no doubt focus on the final five minutes at Homebush on Saturday night.

The Crusaders began slowly, rose to a strong sequence deep in the Super 15 tournament, but could not close the deal.

Take another bow, Richie McCaw. Well, that's my position. There are others who may be hurling brickbats his way.

Fairytales do come true after all. The Waratahs, after 18 seasons of underachievement, finally won their first Super Rugby title tonight. Bernard Foley and Richie McCaw reflect on the Waratahs victory. Plenty could be made of the decision by Craig Joubert to penalise Richie McCaw for coming in from the side, but in the overall wash up, neither side could really complain.

Watch a replay of tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby final between the Crusaders and the Waratahs in Sydney.

Crusaders captain Kieran Read caused a minor controversy ahead of tonight's Super Rugby final when he left a captain's photo opportunity before his Waratahs counterpart Michael Hooper arrived.

For Dan Carter, match day doesn't change, no matter the occasion or the opposition.

History shows there have been 18 hyped-up yet fruitless campaigns for the Waratahs.

An avid Chiefs supporter is switching his Super Rugby allegiance - but just for one night.

Give the Super Rugby trophy to the Waratahs now. Bookies in NZ are clinging to the notion that the Crusaders are on a roll, but Wynne Gray doubts that.

Mic Check versus the Silver Fox. The sub-plots in finals week are almost as interesting as the Big Show. The volatile Michael Cheika versus the understated Todd Blackadder.

In today's column I want to have an in-depth look at Nemani Nadolo and the way the Crusaders have improved him out of sight and vice versa.

The Waratahs are concocting a plan to suffocate Daniel Carter in the Super Rugby showdown.

Wyatt Crockett's work-load is about to ramp up even more with a Super Rugby final then a starting role for the All Blacks in their world-record winning quest.

Dan Carter, refreshed after his break away from the game and energised by his performance against the Sharks and the opportunities of the week ahead, is promising more.

The semifinal was a really good win for the Crusaders; it was a great win for Todd Blackadder and his staff.

Todd Blackadder was asked how he thought he would feel if he got to lift the Super Rugby trophy as a coach.

The Crusaders to win by about 12 points. That is this column's pick for the Super 15 final.

We've got the Super Rugby final we wanted as a tantalising entree to the Bledisloe Cup, writes Wynne Gray.

The Crusaders juggernaut rolls on for another week, the Sharks dismantled piece by piece in Christchurch tonight by a team who look in clinical, and ominous, form.

Watch a replay of tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby semi-final between the Crusaders and the Sharks from AMi Stadium in Christchurch.

Corey Flynn's journey to tonight's semifinal, his 150th match for the Crusaders and a clash against Bismarck du Plessis, considered the best hooker in the world, has been a long and often painful one.