History beckons as teams face each other in successive finals

Super Rugby history will be created when the Lions and Crusaders contest the 2018 final on Saturday, the first time the same sides have contested successive title deciders.

The New Zealanders won 2517 in South Africa last season and will be favoured to lift the trophy again, given their outstanding form, tradition and having home advantage in Christchurch.

Crusaders have won 16 of 18 league and knockout matches this year, and have never lost a play-offs match at home with the 30-12 semifinal win over the Wellington Hurricanes Saturday their 20th straight success.

The Crusaders will be without bruising flanker Jordan Taufua after he suffered a broken arm against the Hurricanes.

Coach Scott Robertson also faced a question mark over backline leader Ryan Crotty and was grappling with a dwindling stock of hookers as he began Sunday to prepare for the showdown in Christchurch.

Injuries aside, Robertson viewed Saturday’s semifinal victory as a sign his defending champions were tracking well to claim a ninth title, with discipline, defence and the skills of flyhalf Richie Mo’unga working as planned.

After the loss, Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd pointed to the strength of the Crusaders powerful forward pack. “We couldn’t get any go forward to get ourselves rolling.”

Even with the loss of Taufua, Robertson has Wallaby international Pete Samu to call on for the starting pack to join seven All Blacks. Taufua is an All Black in name only. After being selected to play France in the June Tests he was sidelined by a calf injury in training.

Crotty left the field after a blow to the head and will be monitored in the coming days, while replacement hooker Seb Siataga suffered a broken arm to become the third Crusaders rake to be sidelined by injury this year. –

This is the first time in the competition that two sides play in backto-back finals