Rugby: Crusaders' emotions on ice for final

Sonny Bill Williams will pull on the No 12 jersey against the Reds in Brisbane. Photo / Getty Images

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The Crusaders are trying to take an almost bloodless approach to what most are picking will be an emotionally draining final tomorrow night.

While acknowledging that a win "would be a little bit special", coach Todd Blackadder said relying on the sort of nervous energy that comes from playing in a highly charged atmosphere would not be enough to beat the Reds.

"There's a lot of emotion there, but these games aren't won purely on emotion. There's motivation, but we've got to be clinical when it comes to executing the game plan and delivering a performance on the field," Blackadder said.

"We need to put the emotion behind us, and we have done so this week, so we can focus on putting a performance on the track."

There is also the acknowledgment that as remarkable as the campaign has been to date, they don't hand out winners' medals to plucky triers.

"We're not getting ahead of ourselves. We haven't done anything yet," Blackadder said.

A large part of beating the Reds will come down to corralling the halves combination of Will Genia and Quade Cooper.

Blackadder admitted he was stunned by the latter's performance when the Reds brushed aside the challenge of the Blues.

"Not just last week, it's been all season. I take my hat off to them. Week in, week out, they haven't been rotated, they've fronted for the Reds and [they] have played some brilliant rugby this year.

"Cooper is just sublime. He did things in the semifinal that were just unbelievable. He's certainly going to be a challenge for us."

Captain Richie McCaw will be one of those charged with shutting down Cooper and Genia's time and space.

He was satisfied, but no more than that, with his comeback performance last week, indicating he felt he was given an armchair ride behind a dominant tight five.

"At scrum time and [in terms of the] physicality on defence, they set the standard and from there the game felt under control. The boys executed what we were after pretty well and it's going to have to be exactly the same this week."

Both teams yesterday named unchanged lineups, something Reds coach Ewen McKenzie is treasuring.

"At this stage you benefit greatly from continuity and the team we selected against the Blues did a wonderful job and deserve another opportunity," he said. "We've benefited from a whole squad effort in 2011 but feel we have the right mix of experience and talent to be successful on Saturday night."

For the visitors, Andy Ellis came through training unscathed yesterday, giving Blackadder a full deck.

Blackadder named a team unchanged from the one that beat the Stormers so convincingly at Cape Town. Ellis took a knock to his knee and left Newlands early.

"It's remarkable, to be honest," Blackadder said. "He's 100 per cent."

Promising lock Luke Romano has been cleared of the chicken pox that saw him spend an extra night in quarantine in Johannesburg after their semifinal win over the Stormers. The Reds' medical chief checked him to ensure he was no longer infectious.

Chris Jack and Willi Heinz will remain in Brisbane as cover, while the Crusaders are flying those who have played a part in their circuitous route to the final over for the weekend.

They include Israel Dagg and Adam Whitelock.

Blackadder said the time on the road had had one big advantage.

"When you're on the road you've got a captive audience. They can't escape from the coaches' clutches," he joked.

"Adversity brings people together. We all share a common bond and have had to get on with it. It's probably worked for us."

As to any lingering suspicion that the wearying travel schedule might finally take its toll, Blackadder dismissed it.

"We're physically fit and mentally strong so we're good to go."

The Reds won their round 12 encounter on this same ground, 17-16.