Crusaders v Brumbies - Final Preview
May 23, 2002

This Saturday the Crusaders entertain the Brumbies in Christchurch in the 2002 Super 12 Final.

VENUE & TIME: Christchurch - Saturday - 17:35 AEST
HEAD TO HEAD:
Crusaders 4 (at home 2) Brumbies 4 (at home 2)
CRUSADERS
Finished 2002 regular season: 1st place.
Best finish: 1998 1st, 1999 1st, 2000 1st

BRUMBIES
Finished 2002 regular season: 3rd place.
Best finish: 2001 1st

COVERAGE: Fox Sports
LAST TIME:
2002: When these two sides met in the preliminary rounds in Christchurch, the Crusaders snuck home 33-32 courtesy of a last-gasp Aaron Mauger field goal. The Brumbies scored four tries to two, but the class of Crusaders five-eighth Andrew Mehrtens guided them to victory with five penalties, a field goal and a conversion for a personal tally of 20 points. It was a high quality game with the lead changing five times and although the Brumbies lost their way for four weeks mid-season, there was no doubt going on this game that the Crusaders and Brumbies would always remain the front-runners to contest the final.

2001: Brumbies 51-16 (Canberra Stadium)
2000: Super 12 final Crusaders 20-19 (Bruce Stadium)
2000: Brumbies 17-12 (Jade Stadium)
1999: Crusaders 28-21 (Bruce Stadium)
1998: Crusaders 38-26 (Fraser Park)
1997: Brumbies 49-29 (Bruce Stadium)
1996: Brumbies 29-7 (Lancaster Park)

WALKING WOUNDED
Brumbies coach David Nucifora has named a 24-man squad with lock Justin Harrison and fullback Mark Bartholomeusz carrying ankle injuries. Utility back James Holbeck returns to the side after a long layoff with a knee injury. The former Wallaby has played just one regular Super 12 game this season. Nucifora has a couple of interesting decisions to make. He has recalled No.8 Peter Ryan after the former Brisbane Bronco injured his knee three weeks ago. However, his replacement Scott Fava has been in tremendous form. Nucifora may also start Julian Huxley rather than Bartholomeusz. Nucifora has two other kickers in Stirling Mortlock and Andrew Walker, but Huxley landed seven from seven against the Waratahs and is a match-winner with the boot.

FORM
After their mid-season slump, the Brumbies are rediscovering their best form with routs against the Chiefs, Blues and a breakthrough flogging of the Waratahs in Sydney. They haven't played for the full 80 minutes in any of these games, but they've improved in each outing and there's enough for the fans to feel confident as the side heads over to Christchurch.

The Brumbies were the former kings of patient, clinical rugby, but the Crusaders have taken it a step further this year. They were never threatened by the Highlanders in last week's 34-23 semi-final in a methodical display. One more win will make it a 13-game cleansweep for the season, which would be remarkable achievement.

WHO'S HOT
Like teammate Aaron Mauger, lock Chris Jack will be one of the first picked for the All Blacks. Jack has dominated the lineouts this year and has shown remarkable skills for a man his size across the paddock. The Brumbies had a field day against the Waratahs lineout last week, but Jack will ensure life is a lot more difficult for the defending champions in Christchurch.

There's no doubt a huge part of the Brumbies revival has come on the back of the momentum outside-centre Stirling Mortlock generates in the midfield. After a few problems with injury, Mortlock is back to his damaging best and the Crusaders must ensure they make the first tackle count. Little went right for the Waratahs in the semi-final, but the one thing that did go well was the quality marking of Mortlock ... something the Crusaders would have taken plenty of notice of.

WHO'S NOT
The losers who purchased huge blocks of tickets and denied many Crusaders' fans the chance to watch the game. Scalping isn't illegal and many who had queued overnight in frosty conditions were denied after only about half managed to a buy tickets before it was sold-out in two hours. Some people in the line claimed those ahead of them bought more than 200 tickets each, worth about $NZ8,000, which they can on-sell for a tidy profit.

KEY MATCH-UPS
Justin Marshall/Andrew Mehrtens v George Gregan/Stephen Larkham - It hardly needs to be said what an influence these four will have on the game. The chances are very high they will meet again this season in national colours, but for the moment provincial pride is paramount. Larkham had his best game of the season when the Crusaders and Brumbies met in Round Six. Not surprisingly, he was very quiet when the Brumbies dropped four successive games, but has returned to his best in the Brumbies' revival in recent weeks. Larkham is at his best when he's running the ball to the defensive line, but we haven't seen much of it lately.

Reuben Thorne v Owen Finegan - If blindside flanker Reuben Thorne can carry off the trophy after leading the Crusaders to 13 successive victories then don't be surprised if John Mitchell names him as All Blacks captain. Owen Finegan is also out to impress national selectors. Not too long ago, Finegan received a phone call from Wallaby coach Eddie Jones and told in no uncertain terms to lift his game.

Aaron Mauger v Pat Howard - Crusaders inside-centre Aaron Mauger will be one of the first names All Black coach John Mitchell writes down when he selects the squad. His combinations with Merhtens this year have been outstanding and it was a rare moment when the Crusaders weren't controlling the midfield. Pat Howard might not be at the top when the Wallaby side is named, but there are few centres running around in world rugby with his experience, and particularly his finals experience having enjoyed British and European success with Leicester.

Richard McCaw v George Smith - By the time these two flankers hang up their boots they're going to be very sick of the sight of each other as they seem poised to dominate rugby breakdowns for many years to come. McCaw has starred in his first full season of Super 12 and many think he will shade the Wallaby tearaway in Saturday's final.

Greg Somerville v Bill Young - Bill Young is one of the form looehead props of the Super 12, probably much to the frustration of Waratahs coach Bob Dwyer. He is one of several Brumbies finding form as the side dragged itself out of a four-game losing streak and his battle against All Black tighthead Greg Somerville will be critical.

Andrew Mehrtens' boot v Julian Huxley's boot - South African whistle-blower Andre Watson will be running the show so any side that even remotely steps out of line will pay for it. We all know what Andrew Mehrtens can do - he scored 20 points when these sides last met - and while Julian Huxley is no definite starter his seven-from-seven against the Waratahs proves he would be more than handy in a pressure final. If the contest did come down to kicks, Mehrtens is easily the safest bet against the other two Brumbies' kickers in Andrew Walker and Stirling Mortlock.

Robbie Deans v David Nucifora - A nice little spat has developed between the two coaches this week over the respective tactics of either side. Deans brought up the old chestnut regarding Brumbies decoy runners, while Nucifora countered by saying the Crusaders were illegally blocking defensive players at the breakdown.

The Brumbies v a hostile Jade Stadium - Christchurch's Jade Stadium will be heaving on Saturday night as the Crusaders look to finish the job and complete a dream year. It's bad enough at the best of times for any Aussie in hostile Kiwi territory, but after the World Cup furore the Super 12 is seen as the first step in exacting sweet revenge on the big bully from across the ditch. But the Brumbies won't be completely alone with at least 300 supporters heading over for the game. One hardy bunch has chartered a Qantas flight, which will leave Canberra at 10.30am on Saturday. They arrive back at about 1am on Sunday and the in-flight entertainment includes a taped message from lock Justin Harrison, followed by a viewing of last week's 51-10 semi-final thrashing of the Waratahs.

LIKE TO SEE
A repeat of the Round Six encounter between the two sides. The game was worthy of a final with plenty of attacking rugby and a nailbiting finish from two class acts.

WOULDN'T LIKE TO SEE
Plenty of New Zealand fans would like to see a similar scoreline as to what the Crusaders inflicted on the Waratahs a couple of weeks ago, but it seems even the most one-eyed supporters on both sides of the Tasman are anticipating a fantastic final.

WE THINK
The Crusaders crashed the Brumbies party in 2000 when they snatched the title at a freezing Bruce Stadium 20-19. So not only will the Brumbies be looking for back-to-back championships on Saturday, a little bit of revenge in the opposition's backyard will be just as satisfying. Despite the Brumbies revival in recent weeks, there are still some doubts over their ability to maintain the focus for 80 minutes. The Crusaders have taken a leaf out of the Brumbies playbook this year learning to absorb huge amounts of pressure, maintaining remarkable levels of patience and then striking at every opportunity comes their way. There are plenty of All Black and Wallaby hopefuls running around and with good old Kiwi v Aussie rivalry at fever pitch, fans are in for a treat. Crusaders by 7.

TEAMS
CRUSADERS: Leon MacDonald, Marika Vunibaka, Mark Robinson, Aaron Mauger, Caleb Ralph, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Scott Robertson, Richie McCaw, Chris Jack, Norm Maxwell, Reuben Thorne (capt), Greg Feek, Mark Hammett, Greg Somerville. Res: David Hewett, Corey Flynn, Sam Broomhall, Johnny Leo'o, Ben Hurst, Daryl Gibson, Ben Blair.

BRUMBIES (squad): Forwards: Ben Darwin, Scott Fava, Damian Flynn, Owen Finegan, Justin Harrison, Tamaiti Horua, Jeremy Paul, David Pusey, Peter Ryan, Angus Scott, George Smith, Daniel Vickerman, Bill Young.
Backs: Mark Bartholomeusz, Graeme Bond, George Gregan (c), Travis Hall, James Holbeck, Pat Howard, Julian Huxley, Stephen Larkham, Stirling Mortlock, Andrew Walker, Joel Wilson.

Referee: Andre Watson (SA)

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