Liam Napier: Jetlag, Jaco Peyper least of Crusaders' worries in the Lions' den

Richie Mo'unga dives over for his try during the Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and Bulls in Pretoria. Photo / photosport.nz

So much of the focus around the Crusaders naturally falls on their exceptional pack.

This week, their quest for an unprecedented eighth title could well be decided by the performance of the backline, or more specifically their ability to match the Lions attack.

Christchurch to Johannesburg presents many challenges. Travelling over the Indian Ocean; playing 1800 metres above sea level where fatigue zaps legs and compresses lungs just a few.

After spending the past two weeks in Christchurch, where a state of emergency and icy cold temperatures created conditions tailor-made for their forwards, the Crusaders now face a complete contrast; confronting a team in the Lions who have forged their success on a hard, fast dry track in the afternoon sun.

No doubt Super Rugby's conference format and draw gave the Lions a serious advantage by allowing them to avoid Kiwi teams until last week's semifinal against the Hurricanes.

Thus, granting a much easier route to a home final.

Last week, the Lions also appeared to benefit from a couple of dubious calls.

But their recent record against Kiwi teams in playoff matches at Ellis Park tells us two things: the Lions are a formidable side on home soil, even more so in front of a 63,000 sellout, and the Crusaders may need to score in excess of 40 points to claim the crown.

In their last three home playoff games against New Zealand opposition, the Lions have scored 42 points (Crusaders, quarter-final, 2016), 42 points (Highlanders, semifinal, 2016) and 44 points (Hurricanes, semifinal, last week).

What's more, Johan Ackermann's men hammered the Blues 43-5 at Ellis Park last year and average 47 points across the board at home this season.

They love to use the ball, love to play at pace, and as the Hurricanes discovered last week, never stop coming.

The Crusaders' defence laid the foundations for last week's convincing semifinal victory over the Chiefs. After making 117 more tackles than the Chiefs, there may be questions about how much they have left in the tank, but the Crusaders will back that same resilience to restrict the Lions ability to quickly clock up scoreboard pressure.

Clearly, though, the Crusaders attack also needs to fire.

From the outside looking in, Leon MacDonald has made a huge difference in this area.

The Crusaders attack has evolved from largely throwing the ball to Nemani Nadolo and hoping he would break the line to being innovative with cross-field kicks and creative with backline moves to exploits space on the outside.

Seven times this season the Crusaders have amassed more than 40 points, with their biggest victory coming up the highway from Johannesburg, when they put 62 on the Bulls in Pretoria.

Good omen, perhaps.

As always the onus will be put on the experienced All Blacks to lay the platform up-front, to target set-piece supremacy and control the pace before the bench is unleashed to counter altitude.

But the backline will be called upon much more than they were in the past two weeks.

Against the Highlanders in particular, with conditions especially dire in the quarter-final, some of the Crusaders backs barely touched the ball.

This week the spark must come from Richie Mo'unga.

In the biggest match of his budding career, much rests on his shoulders to lead the same clinical finishing that was so evident against the Chiefs.

Outside him the Crusaders possess genuine weapons in Jack Goodhue, Seta Tamanivalu, Israel Dagg and David Havili, with Ryan Crotty holding it all together.

Collectively, this is their time to show just how far the Crusaders have come.

From the bizarre appointment of South African referee Jaco Peyper to the taxing travel, rabid crowd and unfair format, everything appears stacked against the Crusaders.

This is, however, the only team in Super Rugby history to win a final away from home.

All the more reason to attack.

Lions last three home playoff matches:

Lions 44 Hurricanes 29 (2017)

Lions 42 Highlanders 30 (2016)

Lions 42 Crusaders 25 (2016)