TITLE DECIDER 2017 Crusaders seek happy ending

Erasing the Crusaders’ nine-year Super Rugby title drought could hinge on how Scott Robertson manages the final 20 minutes tomorrow morning.

If coach Robertson and his team are to launch a victory party after the Super Rugby final in Johannesburg, and wash away the frustrations that have accumulated since the Crusaders last won the competition in 2008, they may have to be prepared to approach a state of physiological Armageddon at Ellis Park.

No matter who you talk to in the Crusaders camp this week, the message hasn’t deviated; that their early arrival in Jo’burg - they landed in the city about 36 hours after beating the Chiefs 27-13 in the semifinal in Christchurch last Saturday night - negates the theory that the long journey, jet lag and being stationed at 1700m above sea level will affect their performance.

Their positive attitude is to be commended, but the Lions, who like the Crusaders are superbly conditioned and can switch their game plan at the flicker of an eyelid, will be keenly aware they could make the New Zealanders suffer in the final quarter if their coach doesn’t make his substitutions at the right time.

Having scrutinised the way the Lions fired up their engines to swat aside the Hurricanes 44-29 in the semi last weekend - they trailed by 19 points in the first spell - Robertson had noted the dramatic shift in momentum.

‘‘They probably would have liked to have got more out of their bench, the Hurricanes,’’ Robertson told media in South Africa.

‘‘And they got finished over the top of - the Lions scored a lot of points in the last part of the second half. We are well aware of that strength they have got. They are fit. This Crusaders team has been around for a long time, so we will trust that.’’

Robertson will likely rotate his international front row of Joe Moody, Codie Taylor and Owen Franks out of the contest by the 60 minute mark. Getting the fresh legs of lock Luke Romano and back rower Pete Samu into the action may also be vital if the New Zealanders are to be effective in negating the Lions driving mauls.

Watching the Hurricanes wilt so badly against the Lions was sobering but having so many All Blacks in the Crusaders pack should be of immense comfort - as will having so many experienced warriors who have succeeded before at Ellis Park.

Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock, Wyatt Crockett, Taylor and Franks were in the All Blacks side that finished strongly to beat the Springboks in the last test they played in the city in 2015, winning 27-20 after Richie Mccaw scored off a lineout in the 73rd minute.

Noting that forwards Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua and Read will beat a path towards Lions first five-eighth Elton Jantjies is as

obvious as the statement that the 62,000 fans at the great stadium might enjoy their beer and biltong.

Jantjies isn’t the perfect product. He can be erratic, but the Crusaders should remember that when they lost to the Lions in the quarterfinal last year he thrived when given space to make easy decisions.

With the sun on their backs, and with a dry ball in their mitts, the Crusaders backs could easily get amped and run the ball from all points of the park so it will be up to first-five Richie Mo’unga to exert some control.

Robertson also noted the Crusaders were content with the selection of South African Jaco Peyper as the ref, given they ranked him as the No 1 whistler prior to the finals.

‘‘He has to take the emotion out of it ... so we can’t ask for more than someone like Jaco who has got those capabilities,’’ Robertson said.