Rugby: McKenzie tackles bookies pessimism

Ewen McKenzie. Photo / Getty Images

Ewen McKenzie is at odds with bookmakers who rate his Queensland Reds side virtual no hopers of claiming their first Super rugby crown at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

In a break from convention, the Reds head coach has baulked at suggestions his side were the underdogs in their showdown with the seven-time champion Crusaders.

Usually rival coaches clamour for the outsiders' tag as part of a predictable pre-match build-up but McKenzie changed tack today when arguing his table-topping squad deserved to be the favourites.

Betting agencies on either side of the Tasman expect the Crusaders to overcome the adversity associated with Christchurch's devastating earthquake in February and claim an eighth crown - and the first by a side that never played a game on their home ground.

Despite no side ever reigning supreme in Australia or New Zealand the week after winning a semifinal in South Africa, the Crusaders are predicted to create history by triumphing in Brisbane, their final stopover after beating the Stormers 29-10 in Cape Town.

The New Zealand TAB has the Crusaders at $1.52 favourites and quotes the Reds at $2.40. Australia's Centrebet installs the Crusaders as $A1.60 favourites (Reds $A2.36) while TABSportsbet mirrors their Kiwi counterpart.

Those estimates irked McKenzie before his side embarked on their final intense training session.

"I find it disappointing we're not favourites going into this game," he said.

"We don't want to be the underdog going into a final. People want to grab the underdog status, we don't," he said.

"I don't know what criteria they (bookmakers) use, the people who make these decisions."

Although they had not made the play-offs since 2001 and Saturday is their first involvement in a title decider, the Reds have beaten the Crusaders in their last two matches at Suncorp Stadium - 41-20 last year and 17-16 on May 29.

They are also blessed with genuine playmaking stars in Will Genia and Quade Cooper and a steely defensive structure.

The Reds earned home advantage on the basis of a 13 win, three loss regular season; the Crusaders won the New Zealand conference and qualified third with a 11-win, 1-draw, 4-loss record.

McKenzie who took over Australian rugby's serial non-achievers last year navigated the Reds from the competition depths to fifth in 2010.

There was no sign of the so-called "second-year syndrome" this year but McKenzie said the team were still obviously battling to gain credibility.

"I've talked about credibility in the past and we're still trying to make headway in that space. We want to be the favourites and unfortunately we're not so we've still got work ahead of us.

"When we started last year we were just trying to win two games in a row. I think we've come a long way since then. We've moved on and we're happy to carry that burden of expectation that comes with that."

- NZPA