Crusaders, Blues to play sold-out Eden Park

Will Jordan scores yet another try for the Crusaders. PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

As the Blues and Crusaders prepare to play off in the Super Rugby Pacific final, Jeff Cheshire looks at reasons both may win.

CRUSADERS

Been there, done that

Speaking of things that were a long time ago - do you remember the last time the Crusaders did not win a Super Rugby title? The Highlanders were defending champions, the All Blacks were entering their first year without McCaw, Carter and co, and Covid-19 was still four years away. The year was 2016 and the Hurricanes lifted the trophy.

Sure, they came up short in last year’s transtasman competition, despite not losing a game. But the Crusaders know how to win finals and - as their fans love to remind us - they have done it again, and again, and again.

Defence into attack

Perhaps this Crusaders team does not have the firepower of the Blues, but it still has a ton of lethal threats. Will Jordan and Sevu Reece in particular can create something out of nothing. And that is what makes them dangerous. This is a team that will hang on under pressure on its own line for 10 minutes then get its hands on the ball and score a length-of-the-field try.

Grit

That ability to transition on to attack is what makes the Crusaders so dangerous. But their ability to hold resolute is equally impressive and it is often that, more so than the flair out wide, that will win finals. They will get the ultimate test this week against a loaded Blues attack this week, though.

Mark Telea is part of a lethal Blues backline.

BLUES

Form team

Remember when the teams were all in their Queenstown bubble to start the season? Remember Ardie Savea streaking down the wing to steal a win for the Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium on opening weekend? Seems a long time ago, right? That is because it was - February 26, to be exact. It was also the last time the Blues lost.

Since then, they have strung together 15 wins in a row. They have won big, they have won tight ones and they have won without key personnel. That included a thrilling victory in Christchurch two months ago.

Finals are often different, but it would be tough to go past a team with that sort of record.

Firepower

RTS, Rieko, Akira, Telea, Barrett, Perofeta, plus a whole lot more. There are so many attacking weapons in this Blues team and they do not need much space to take advantage.