The NSW Waratahs have secured the 2014 Super Rugby crown after a thrilling 33-32 victory over the Crusaders in front of over 60,000 fans at ANZ Stadium.
The Waratahs surrendered their advantage late in the match and it was only thanks to a Bernard Foley penalty in the 79th minute that the home side was able to wrestle back the lead.
FINAL SCORE:
Waratahs 33
Crusaders 32
The 2014 Super Rugby final sees the red-hot Waratahs hosting the Crusaders at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:40pm (AEST).
This game has all the hallmarks of being a classic, with the table-topping Waratahs facing the most successful team in Super Rugby history in the Crusaders.
The Waratahs have had a dream season, playing an irresistible brand of attacking and physical footy on their way to cleaning up the Australian conference, claiming outright first, and eventually home advantage and favouritism for the final.
The Crusaders have had a stuttering season but, like all great teams, roared into life when it counted. With the return of some of their big guns the Canterbury side secured top place in the New Zealand conference and second overall.
The Crusaders had a comfortable (some may say dominant) semi–final win over the Sharks and look in ominous form at the right time of the season, while the Waratahs had to endure a bruising encounter against their local rivals the Brumbies before running away with the match in the last 15 minutes.
The Waratahs won’t change anything tonight. They will attempt to play the game at pace, using their powerful ball runners through the middle of the park before opening the throttle out wide, all backed up by their stinging defence.
Most likely, the Waratahs will look to giants Will Skelton, Sekope Kepu and Wycliff Palu in particular to bust through the Crusaders backline and unleash Folau and his wing-men outside.
The Crusaders will attempt to control the pace of the game by utilising their experienced forward pack and excellent set piece to build pressure before unleashing the likes of Nemani Nadolo and Israel Dagg into the fray.
The Waratahs should not underestimate the Crusaders attack and older side. The combination of Dan Carter and Collin Slade is decidedly New Zealand (playing two flyhalves) and is a tried and tested means to obliterate an opponent with skill rather than brawn.
The Crusaders do have muscle though, and plenty of it. Owen Franks and Wyatt Crockett will lead battle up front and look to continue their set-piece dominance. At the back, Kieran Read and Richie McCaw (two thirds of the All Blacks backrow) will attempt to nullify a powerful and agile Waratahs backrow.
Numerous match-ups to watch tonight but none will be more influential than the battle of the eights, which sees Kieran Read up against Wycliff Palu, McCaw against Hooper and Carter against Beale.
Read’s leadership and work rate in particular will be required tonight, while Palu’s powerful ball running and big defence will be imperative for the Waratahs.
How will the Crusaders nullify the effect of Israel Folau? What will the Waratahs do to apply pressure to Dan Carter? Will the old timer in Richie McCaw once again rule the roost or will the new kid Michael Hooper upstage the old pro?
I can’t wait to find out!
Post your thoughts below as we cover all the action live from ANZ.
Tip: Waratahs by 4.
Wii
Guest
I don't think you can say that. For starters they never played the Crusaders during the regular season and they only won the Final at home do remember that at home in front of their home fans by 1point off the back of a BS call in the last seconds of the game.
Wii
Guest
If you know anything about rugby you will know McCaw was totally in his right and it was a very bad call from Joubert
Wii
Guest
Why was it the best ever because an Australian team won? Give me a break
Wii
Guest
Clark is right that call was absolutely rubbish, it's not sour grapes it's FACT. FACT remains Joubert won the Tahs this final with a dubious call. FACT is the Tahs won the title FACT remains it was an appalling decision and Blackadder had very right to question the call. Sadly super rugby was over as a fair contest as soon as this ridiculous conference system came into place , but to have refs making title winning decisions only highlights the absurdity of this competition.
Wii
Guest
No the weren't the better team they were losing the match until that final call. I find it astounding that anyone can justify that last penalty.
Wii
Guest
To win the final on the back of a highly dubious call, deserves a pat on the back???? The Tahs were good this year but did they deserve the title that's a huge call that Joubert got very wrong only a Aussie or Tahs supporter would claim otherwise.
Wii
Guest
How could you not say it cost them the game JB? You must be living in an alternate universe. It was the last play of the game the Crusaders were leading with a minute to play. It cost them the game, to state otherwise is pure ignorance. Sure there were sine 50/50 calls for both teams however none were as important as that last one.
JB
Guest
Palu was enormous his best year of rugby in my opinion, most players who have had injuries like Palu are finished by now, he's improving let's hope he stays fit and we can get a full /trc and world cup next year out of him
JB
Guest
sawit a 50 50 call there were plenty of them through the game, to say that this cost the crusaders the game is wrong. They had their opportunities as did the tags the tags just took more of them.
Zero Gain
Guest
OK, maybe it will be OK then?
Morsie
Guest
Nah - AAC to 13, Beale on the wing and Folau at 15. 2 Deadly.
clarkeg
Guest
What was clear at the final penalty was that McCaw did nothing wrong. The Waratah player fell to the ground. There was no tackle. As there was no tackle there was no requirement to come from behind the ball or come from directly behind the tackled player.
Jerry
Guest
There was no tackle, no ruck. The Tahs player tripped over one of his team-mates feet at the base of the ruck. There's no offside or gate in that situation.
Buzzard
Guest
Yep good year for Sydneysiders/NSW sport. No the Vixens(VIC) won the Netball. Nearly as good as 2011 & Qld sport. Reds, Maroons, Roar, Firebirds all winning their respective championships. As much as I hate the Tahs I congratulate them on a stellar season and gutsy win last night. Hard luck Saders maybe next year. Carn the All Blacks what hopefully will be a bumper Bledisloe series.
Jerry
Guest
Clark is right though, the Tahs did use hands in the ruck and McCaw did nothing wrong. I understand you think McCaw is a cheat but honestly - as a ref go back and watch that and tell me he did anything illegal on that play. That said, I thought the scrum penalty against Kepu that drew the Crusaders to within 1 was harsh.
Firstxv
Guest
yes this adds some real flavour to the next match same venue. Many of the same players will be returning and like the tahs did for oz sxv rugby in 2014, the W's need to turn their fortunes around as well. McCaw will be back with a much stronger side and they'll be looking for the record 18th. The test has everything riding on it now- the tahs having just made sure of that.
Jereme Lane
Roar Guru
such a good player. so much better than conrad smith, the most overrated player in world rugby. that was a lesson to conrad smith in how to penetrate a defence something that conrad smith never has done. made a career off the space the ABs forwards and nonu provide while contributing next to nothing in attack. AAC third in line breaks all year and does it again when it counts in the big one. i think the interesting thing about line break statistics these days is that they count anything as a line break. for example if there is an overlap and the winger goes in untouched that still counts as a linebreak. for example conrad smith at one stage had 9 linebreaks last year and he also had 9 tries (i know because i had this debate last year). most of his linebreaks were crossing the line for a try untouched after someone else did all the work. nadolo is another example. he has a lot of linebreaks this year which aren't actually linebreaks just overlaps. same with folau too, a lot of his linebreaks are off the back of hard work in the leadup. then look at AAC, pretty much every single one of his have been through the middle of the defence. he is one of the best line runners in super rugby history and is wasted on the wing in my opinion. kuridrani has a lot of potential and i really like him as a player but he is nowhere near AAC yet. get digby back for the left wing and speight on the right wing and thats a hell of a backline
Jereme Lane
Roar Guru
yep, we can probably still expect an article on monday from lordy about how he didnt notice palu at all in the game and still thinks that he shouldnt be in the wallabies squad. but hey thats just lordy
Rev
Guest
Cut McCaw some slack. His "EXPERIANCE" has given both crusaders and All blacks many wins. However well played Waratahs... can't wait for the Bledisloe
Worlds Biggest
Guest
A Final for the ages, what an incredible night. As a Tahs fan I'm so stoked we finally won it. A record crowd, ANZ was rocking, what an atmosphere. Congrats to both teams on a magnificent Final. So proud of the Tahs !