Super-Final

I'm sure it won't be, but it would be nice if this final was the thing that took the boring old farts and said, yes, the Super-ELVs were a good set.

It might seem odd for a 20-12 victory, but in a way that the Heineken Cup final never was, this game was pulsating, fast, furious and wonderful. Some of that might be because the score, somewhat at least, flatters the losers: 27-12 or more would probably have happened but for a punch.

In the first half, in fact in the first 25 minutes, the Crusaders had almost all the ball and almost all the territory and yet were 12-3 down. The one real attack that the 'Tahs managed produced a try from a good cross-kick and a matter of millimetres in the difference in the jumps. The second came from an interception and a moment of blistering pace, and from about 80m away. For the next 15 minutes, the 'Saders increased that dominance and managed to get it back to 12-11 and could have been in front if Dan Carter had landed the conversion, albeit an attempt from right on the touchline.

In the second half, the 'Saders were the only side to score, and the only side to look like scoring really, despite having Brad Thorn in the sin bin for 10 minutes for the punch that cost Wyatt Crockett an unlikely long-range try. Despite being down to 14 men, the 'Saders defence was so good that it didn't really look like being punished.

Granted, there were moves in the second half where the 'Tahs got close: there was a memorable tackle on Tiquiri by former team-mate Thorn within a couple of metres of the line for example, but without exception these raids that nearly got home led to turn overs of one variety or another: because the players in blue were isolated, and gave the ball up correctly, or held it and gave up the free kick, or because on a couple of occasions the 'Saders just got more bodies there at the right time and counter-rucked strongly enough to win the ball.

And because of this the game was immensely gripping: good attacks were blunted by amazing, last-gasp defence. Poor but penetrating attacks were blunted, turned over and frequently led to strong attacks in the opposite direction. As you might expect in such a game, the back rows were everywhere. It's probably fair to say that the Number-8's more or less cancelled each other out. That's a testament to their respective skill levels: it wasn't that they were anonymous, they both had their moments, but with the exception of Tuial'i's try, there moments balanced and cancelled, and it was often thanks to their opposite number they were bought down. Given Palu is almost certainly going to be Aussie No 8 that's a fair old compliment to Tuial'i, and might have him in the starting 15 for the All Blacks in the June tests: I don't remember Soaialo doing the same when the 'Tahs and the 'Canes played, and head-to-head last week Soaialo was far from dominant too.

Waugh and Elsom were good, and got around the park and did their stuff. But, you would have to be very one-eyed not to say that they were both outplayed by their opposite numbers. Those critical moments, the essential turn-overs, the critical times for slowing things down, and the critical carries in the right direction all went to Reid and McCaw. Henry may feel Reid is too young and inexperienced for the international stage, although he's not normally shy about putting young players in. On the evidence of the last few weeks, Reid deserves to be in the squad I'd say (but then I don't do the picking and I don't see all the games from over here).

In fact, it wouldn't be unreasonable to say that all 15 of the 'Saders could be making up the All Black machine rather than the Red and Black machine in two weeks time. There are Chiefs, Blues, Hurricanes and even the odd Highlander, and certainly fans of those sides that would disagree with me. I don't actually believe it will happen either: Hamilton showed some frailty that Sivivatu doesn't any more, and Sivivatu has blistering pace too. Bateman might miss out at Number-12, and Laulala has struggled on the big stage in years gone by so might have used up all his chances with Henry (although I think he's playing better this year than last and probably does deserve a good look if not a starting spot). If Flynn had played, he'd have more chance than his understudy of starting, Mealamu is far more likely. Who will prop along the line from Sommerville is a fair question, and you'd have to say Crockett is probably going to get tapped, but might not quite make it.

Ellis for the last two weeks has demonstrated a great all-round grasp. I think he'll get the nod for number 9. His only mistake today was a kick that drifted out on the full, and that only just. He chivvied his pack, he passed neatly, he defended like a hero when needed. He made the correct decisions each time, and just slipped that once. He also, playing a side that will almost certainly form the bulk of the Australia side, played a full 80 minutes. I think he did last week against the 'Canes too. That's rare in a scrum-half, and a nice thing to have.

Thorne swapped for Thorn for the last couple of minutes. Deans and Thorne are both leaving, although in different directions. They're both departing as seven times winners in a contest that's only been running for 13 years. I don't think, after last week, anyone really doubted the 'Saders would give them that send off, except for the 'Tahs camp you'd hope, and the 'Saders didn't disappoint. How Deans will do in Australia is something that I rather suspect has a number of Kiwi minds wondering and hearts trembling: He's worked miracles in and around the Christchurch region after all. How the Crusaders will do next year without them both, but particularly Deans, is something we'll have to wait and see: and I'm sure some Red and Black fans are nervous about that too - who do you choose to replace such a successful coach? But for the moment, congratulations to them both, and the rest of the Crusaders. They were certainly the better team on the day. They were the best team of the tournament too, only slipping up twice, and playing poorly a couple of other times, albeit well enough. New Zealand rugby is certainly missing bodies to playing in Europe, but it's got new people emerging to fill the gaps judging from the last two weeks.