The All Blacks' policy of injured players not losing their places when they return to fitness could be given its sternest test if Israel Dagg returns to the fold.

Recent set-piece problems for the Waratahs are judgment day delight for the Crusaders.

It ended in failure but the Brumbies' efforts in their semifinal against the Waratahs in Sydney have provided the Crusaders with plenty of encouragement.

The Waratahs aren't worrying for a single second about their drought against the Crusaders going into Saturday's Super Rugby final.

The Waratahs are concocting a plan to suffocate Daniel Carter in the Super Rugby showdown.

The Crusaders' forwards, who provided the platform for their semifinal victory over the Sharks with a dominant performance that at times embarrassed the big South Africans.

Dan Carter, refreshed after his break away from the game and energised by his performance against the Sharks and the opportunities of the week ahead, is promising more.

The semifinal was a really good win for the Crusaders; it was a great win for Todd Blackadder and his staff.

Departing coaching director Laurie Fisher is convinced the Brumbies are close to ending their decade-long Super Rugby title drought.

The Crusaders to win by about 12 points. That is this column's pick for the Super 15 final.

Todd Blackadder was asked how he thought he would feel if he got to lift the Super Rugby trophy as a coach.

We've got the Super Rugby final we wanted as a tantalising entree to the Bledisloe Cup, writes Wynne Gray.

Some years back, the Aberdeen Evening Express in Scotland reported on a big storm. At its height, a coastguard was asked by marine authorities to estimate wind speed.

It's off to Sydney then - which will host it's host final after the Waratahs clawed and scrapped their way into the last two.

Corey Flynn's journey to tonight's semifinal, his 150th match for the Crusaders and a clash against Bismarck du Plessis, considered the best hooker in the world, has been a long and often painful one.

It's a very fine line between hero and zero. No one is more acutely aware of that than Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder.

Why the inquiry, surely it's superfluous? Why would the Waratahs alter an adventurous playing pattern that has vaulted them to the top of the Super Rugby series?

You can attribute a large part of the Highlanders' demise last week to their struggles at scrum time against the Sharks.

Afew years ago there was a discussion at Crusaders' management and administration level about what would be considered a good season.

The last time Jean Deysel played against the Crusaders in Christchurch, he spent the night after the game with mixed emotions.

He's already at another level, but superstar fullback Israel Folau is hoping to raise his game to impossible new heights in the Waratahs' semi-final against the Brumbies tomorrow.