Look at the Crusaders and see an All Blacks mentality

Look at the Crusaders and see an All Blacks mentality, which is why they are my favourites.

After what I saw them do to the Highlanders, I’m even more convinced of their ability to win this from here.

This is the part of the season they love. They have managed their All Blacks superbly and they know how to win big games.

Their performances this year, in what all fans would agree has been the toughest and most competitive Super Rugby season on record, continue to impress.

No Dan Carter? That’s OK, we’ll just bring in Colin Slade. Richie McCaw’s injured? Don’t worry, we’ll play Matt Todd there. George Whitelock has moved on, it’s cool we have this kid named Jordan Taufua.

They are the masters of introducing players into their system who immediately pick up the mantle.

You can see it in the franchise’s expectations annually. Anything other than a play-offs position is deemed an abject failure. The bar is set so high.

This is new territory for the Tahs and they are simply not as experienced as the likes of Todd Blackadder’s troops.

What we have now is working perfectly fine.

– Sunday Star Times