Hurricanes a lot more than 'Tana and Jerry show'

The Hurricanes are no longer the two trick ponies of 2005 who could be shut down with a basic plan, warns Crusaders coach Robbie Deans ahead of tomorrow's Super 14 rugby final here.

The last time the teams met in a playoff was last year's Super 12 semifinal at the same Jade Stadium venue, where the Crusaders romped to a 47-7 victory before going on to lift their fifth title a week later.

Deans said after the Crusaders' win that shutting down centre Tana Umaga and flanker Jerry Collins was the key to victory, believing there was little else of concern.

"We felt they were the triggers for their game," Deans remembered yesterday.

"They've got more triggers now so it won't be that straightforward this time around.

"There's no doubt they are better than this time last year, they have improved significantly."

The ball-winning capacity of Taranaki lock Jason Eaton, an improved scrum and maul and the growing influence of the Hurricanes loosies has turned their pack into an attacking weapon while Umaga and Ma'a Nonu can cut open most defences. Out wide, winger Lome Fa'atau has scored more tries than any player this season with 10 and fullback Isaia Toeava continues to mature as an attacking threat.

As usual Deans gave little away about how the Hurricanes threat would be handled although he gave some insight to the thinking behind his one forced change to Crusaders starting side from the one who hammered the Bulls in the semifinals.

Lock Ross Filipo will make his first start for five weeks, coming in for flanker Johnny Leo'o, with seven-final veteran Reuben Thorne shifting from lock to the side of the scrum.

"It gives us a bit more presence in terms of size, a bit more height in terms of standing height in the lineout but you've still got to use it effectively," Deans said.

He will hope Filipo's no nonsense work at the breakdown and thumping tackles can nullify the ball running of Hurricanes loose forwards Rodney So'oialo, Jerry Collins and Chris Masoe, along with another All Blacks influence, halfback Piri Weepu.

Filipo said Deans hadn't yet given him a specific role but he said it wasn't likely to be rocket science.

"Just to play hard I guess, to get out there and try to mix it up with Jerry and co," Filipo said.

"And just to add a bit more weight to the pack because they've got a big pack.

"We can't let their ball runners find space because once they get confident they'll run all over everyone.

"We have to shut them down really early, believe in our systems and just keep applying pressure whenever we can."

Filipo will give the Crusaders another lineout option and he hoped that would help negate the enormous influence of Eaton, who the Waratahs marked heavily during the Hurricanes' narrow semifinal win last weekend.

He noted the Hurricanes responded by using Paul Tito.

"They can work it from anywhere. They're playing well, they're playing confidently so we've got to put pressure on their whole lineout."

The Hurricanes named an unchanged team yesterday.

Only two Hurricanes didn't play in the 11-20 loss when the two teams met at Wellington two months ago -- Umaga and first five-eighth David Holwell.

Three Crusaders missing from that game who will start the final are centre Casey Laulala, halfback Kevin Senio and prop Wyatt Crockett.

By coincidence that trio are the only three players who didn't start in last year's final, won 35-25 over the New South Wales Waratahs at Jade Stadium.

- NZPA