KEY POINTS:
The subplots are as intriguing as the actual Super 14 final as the series reaches its conclusion tomorrow in Christchurch.
Coaching controversies have never been far from the surface in this international tournament with the most notable being the axing of David Nucifora midway through the 2004 event
before his Brumbies side took out the title.
The Waratahs matched that halfway through this season when they eased Ewen McKenzie's considerable frame out of his coaching seat because of dissatisfaction over results.
Meanwhile the New Zealand Rugby Union allowed Robbie Deans to steer the Crusaders through a ninth campaign even though he had been appointed to coach the Wallabies.
Those curious decisions merge tomorrow in Christchurch as Deans' and McKenzie's sides seek the Super 14 title. Will Deans go across the Tasman beaten by his own players with McKenzie, king of the coaching stack for 2008, left unemployed?
Or will the Crusaders and Deans press on for another triumph with New Zealand left wondering even more why such a coaching talent is passing his expertise on to the All Blacks' competitors?
There can be powerful reasons to think the NZRU would like the Crusaders to fail, while the Waratahs' directors, under threat after sacking McKenzie, may not be averse to a Crusaders' victory. Those concepts were aired this week by Ben Perkins, a former member of the Wallabies staff who has shifted to New Zealand, who studied the bulk of the series and formulated his own ideas.
"Is it really imperative for the future of Australian rugby that the Crusaders win this week? I think it is," he wrote. "On the other hand, New Zealand is somewhat reeling with player desertion and fan revolt. Graham Henry is somewhat seen in a similar light to O.J. Simpson - the bloke who got away with murder!"
Perkins argues that Henry did not deliver on his World Cup promises and instead of making an honourable exit when the All Blacks imploded at Cardiff, he offered to make good the failure and Deans' talents were ignored.
"New Zealand rugby heavyweights will be barracking their brains out for the Waratahs," Perkins claims. "They know they have altered nature by giving away Deans. This could well be the greatest mistake made by them in their rugby history.
"If you look at this game in this light, you can almost guarantee the Crusaders will win. New Zealand rugby are bound to be humiliated by this bizarre and wrong decision. It's almost inconceivable that they will be let off the scaffold.
"I think it may be fair to say, also, that the atmosphere around the All Black dressing sheds may not be bristling with humour and festivity. So much baggage remains drenched with deep regret and negativity. They needed to hose the place out, soak it with disinfectant and get a new doctor in."
Perkins predicted that a Crusaders victory would lead to a Wallaby revival in the not-too-distant future - which will be even more painful for the New Zealand rugby community to digest. He is not sure there is a coach in New Zealand who can combat Deans.
"There are going to be lying faces on the men of power from both sides of the Tasman this weekend. Make no mistake, inside the minds and hearts of these men, both home country power brokers want to lose badly."
While those political machinations play out, the Crusaders will seek their fifth title under Deans' command in a match which will also be the last Crusade for former skipper Reuben Thorne, Caleb Ralph and perhaps another couple if All Black selection does not go their way on Sunday.
The Crusaders won the sides' round robin match this year and succeeded 35-25 when the same teams squared off in the 2005 decider.
