Crusaders fire up for fast start

Label the Crusaders as Super 12 rugby final chokers and coach Robbie Deans offers a swift response.

"The fact is we've lost two finals in a row. Perhaps in the traditional meaning of the word, we'll use the choke to get a fast start," Deans said.

But if the coach was not feeling the heat of reversing consecutive finals losses (to the Blues in 2003 and the Brumbies last year), his players admitted it was providing some food for thought during the build-up for tomorrow's final against the Waratahs at Jade Stadium.

All Blacks and Crusaders lock Chris Jack was fairly candid: "It's no surprise any more to get out there and play a final but again you're still a bit anxious.

"There's a good feeling among the team but it's a tough one, you're always a bit on edge whether things are going to go right or not," said.

"The last two we were underdogs and we learned we've just got to play our own game, not try to stop someone else's. If we play our own game we should be all right."

Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie, the crafty former Wallabies test prop, observed the two consecutive finals losses as a potential Achilles heel for the four-time champions.

But logic and recent form suggest a major reversal is needed for the Australians to topple the warm favourites on their home ground before a sellout crowd of 35,700.

Both sides named unchanged starting teams yesterday from their contrasting semifinal victories.

A minor surprise was Deans' opting not to recall last year's All Blacks tourist Casey Laulala at centre, instead rewarding Caleb Ralph with a second consecutive appearance in the No 13 jersey.

Fully recovered from a hamstring twinge, Laulala comes into the reserves.

While Laulala offers more on attack, Ralph's defence with midfield cohort Aaron Mauger in the 47-7 semifinal hiding of the Hurricanes was plenty for Deans, who said continuity was the key.

The Crusaders locked the gates to the training venue for their final shakedown under brilliant sunshine, but there would not have been much to hide.

Jack admitted not a lot would change from what blew the Hurricanes off Jade Stadium last week: keeping ball in hand, rock-solid defence and, hopefully, dominance at the breakdown.

"They're very similar teams, Wellington and New South Wales ... We just want to go out there and show our skills, which is perhaps where we've gone into our shells in the last couple [of finals]."

That was particularly the case a year ago in Canberra when the Brumbies virtually sealed the outcome in the opening 20 minutes.

Captain Richie McCaw still winces at that memory, and offers another reason why this time should be different.

"There's a bit of a lesson because we went out and didn't play for the first 20 minutes. We got punished for every mistake we made," McCaw said.

"We felt like we played well for 60 but missed the first 20, so I guess that's the key, to not let it get away like that."

The Waratahs also had no training mishaps on Wednesday and McKenzie named an unchanged squad of 22 for the game.

Missing were expectant fathers - hooker Brendan Cannon and wing Lote Tuqiri, who are expected to arrive from Sydney today after spending extra time with their pregnant partners.

McKenzie continued to bristle at local opinion, which gives the Waratahs no chance after their 23-13 semifinal win over the Bulls.

"They're favourites, certainly in everyone's minds over here - they've got high expectations," McKenzie said.

"We wouldn't be sitting here if we didn't think we had a prospect of winning the game. We could have stayed at home and had the tickertape parade for Canterbury already. We figure we may as well turn up because we rate ourselves a chance."

McKenzie admitted he was "mildly surprised" at Laulala's omission.

Both sides had light training sessions yesterday to top off their preparations.

- NZPA