We have battled through 168 days, 124 games, 5,999 points (yes, that close to 6000), 610 tries, and over 10,000 minutes of the game they play in heaven, and all of it has come down to this monumental battle between the Waratahs and Crusaders.
This will be the third time these two teams have faced off in the final, and the first time on Australian soil.
Despite the Tahs losing both finals against Crusaders, the NSW boys remain firm favourites and are expected to put on a great show of the running rugby that got them to the final in the first place.
A Tahs win could see records broken. Sizzling Fullback Israel Folau is just a hat-trick away from equalling Joe Roff and Rico Gear’s record for most tries in a season, 15. Any win over seven points will see the home side break the record for best points difference.
A Crusaders win would see them push their record to eight titles. Dan Carter is also set to his impressive record tally, pushing further his records for most points, most conversions and most penalties – provided he scores that is.
Match-ups will play a key part in deciding who wins and loses. Michael Hooper versus Richie McCaw will determine the break down, while in the back line Folau takes on Israel Dagg at fullback, and young gun Alofa Alofa is up against the 122kg wrecking ball Nemani Nadolo.
If you run by patterns, and superstitious hoodoo, you would say that the Crusaders would win this final battle. But the Waratahs have fought too hard this year to give in to some mumbo jumbo curse.
Waratahs by 10.
Owen McCaffrey
Roar Guru
from Allblacks.com: With the matches being played in Australia and New Zealand, both local broadcasters experienced record 2014 results with SKY (345,000) and Fox Sports (246,000) posting their highest average audiences for the year. In addition, each of these games reached over half a million people. Fox Sports’ figures for the Waratahs’ successful Semi-Final eclipsed any game played during the 2013 Super Rugby season and represented an astonishing 292 percent comparative uplift on last year’s penultimate week. Additionally, the Crusaders v Sharks games was the sixth-highest rating game overall in Australia this year and the highest-rating game played overseas. - Australia and New Zealand experienced highest average audience for 2014 - Fox Sports experienced a 292 percent increase on 2013 Semi-Finals and Waratahs v Brumbies rated better than any game throughout the 2013 season - Crusaders v Sharks was the sixth-highest rating game in Australia this year - It was also Fox Sports’ most-watched game played outside of Australia while Waratahs v Brumbies was the most-watched game on SKY played outside of New Zealand - SuperSport’s audience for the Crusaders v Sharks match was 15 percent greater than last season’s corresponding Semi-Final and it was SKY’s best-rating match for the season with 345,000 viewers in New Zealand The Waratahs v Brumbies clash meanwhile produced the highest audience for SKY for a match played out of New Zealand this season, while the Crusaders v Sharks Semi-Final attracted a record viewership of 345,000 – easily the broadcaster’s best result for a Super Rugby match in 2014. South African fans continued to watch and support the Sharks with SuperSport’s average audience of 350,000 for the match being 15 percent higher than the corresponding New Zealand Semi-Final from 2013. Furthermore, the combined live average of the two Semi-Finals as shown by SANZAR’s three core broadcast partners attracted the highest average audience for matches played in New Zealand (822,000) and Australia (665,000) this season. SANZAR CEO Greg Peters said, “Interest in the Semi-Finals was incredibly strong with our host broadcasters posting positive results compared to previous benchmarks, illustrating the immense interest among fans in our core territories.
Owen McCaffrey
Roar Guru
from Allblacks.com: With the matches being played in Australia and New Zealand, both local broadcasters experienced record 2014 results with SKY (345,000) and Fox Sports (246,000) posting their highest average audiences for the year. In addition, each of these games reached over half a million people. Fox Sports’ figures for the Waratahs’ successful Semi-Final eclipsed any game played during the 2013 Super Rugby season and represented an astonishing 292 percent comparative uplift on last year’s penultimate week. Additionally, the Crusaders v Sharks games was the sixth-highest rating game overall in Australia this year and the highest-rating game played overseas. - Australia and New Zealand experienced highest average audience for 2014 - Fox Sports experienced a 292 percent increase on 2013 Semi-Finals and Waratahs v Brumbies rated better than any game throughout the 2013 season - Crusaders v Sharks was the sixth-highest rating game in Australia this year - It was also Fox Sports’ most-watched game played outside of Australia while Waratahs v Brumbies was the most-watched game on SKY played outside of New Zealand - SuperSport’s audience for the Crusaders v Sharks match was 15 percent greater than last season’s corresponding Semi-Final and it was SKY’s best-rating match for the season with 345,000 viewers in New Zealand The Waratahs v Brumbies clash meanwhile produced the highest audience for SKY for a match played out of New Zealand this season, while the Crusaders v Sharks Semi-Final attracted a record viewership of 345,000 – easily the broadcaster’s best result for a Super Rugby match in 2014. South African fans continued to watch and support the Sharks with SuperSport’s average audience of 350,000 for the match being 15 percent higher than the corresponding New Zealand Semi-Final from 2013. Furthermore, the combined live average of the two Semi-Finals as shown by SANZAR’s three core broadcast partners attracted the highest average audience for matches played in New Zealand (822,000) and Australia (665,000) this season. SANZAR CEO Greg Peters said, “Interest in the Semi-Finals was incredibly strong with our host broadcasters posting positive results compared to previous benchmarks, illustrating the immense interest among fans in our core territories.
44bottles
Roar Guru
Come on bro, let's not let the heated arguments/insults spread to another thread.
Spikhaza
Guest
Stuff the Crusaders, bunch of chokers
strap
Roar Rookie
I believe the Crusaders will want it more, how can such a thing be proved? Bring the title back to title town! Go Crusaders!
Magic Sponge
Guest
Cant wait , this is like a Bledisloe test, i think the Tahs will want it more and will grasp the trophy. Go the Feb premiers.