KEY QUESTIONS■ Will Kurtley Beale's inconsistent goalkicking hold up under the pressure?
■ Will the Waratahs kick away possession and then wonder why they've lost by plenty - as they have done so many times before in Christchurch?
■ Will the Waratahs be able to see in the Christchurch fog?
■ Will South African referee Mark Lawrence's willingness to allow an open game help the Waratahs or better suit the Crusaders' attack?
■ Will the appearance of Tah Man on the sideline be an inspiration or distraction?
■ Will the Waratahs board members suddenly swamp the man they got rid of, Ewen McKenzie, lift him on their shoulders and carry him around the ground if he provides them with their first Super 14 trophy? Or will they hoist Tah Man instead?
KEY WARATAHS PLAYERSThis will be the night when Australian rugby discovers whether the schoolboy phenomenon is ready for the next step. Beale has been criticised for his defence and flaky goalkicking, but elsewhere his play has been sound. His special asset is he does not get distracted by the pressure or the public attention and remains calm and collected. Daniel Carter has dominated him in the past, and that could sway tonight's final.
Kurtley Beale:
Wycliff Palu: He doesn't say much, and is very humble off the field. On the field, he is a beast, and a prime reason the Waratahs are appearing in their second Super 14 final. Palu's consistent form this year makes him a certainty for the Wallabies' No.8 jersey, while the Waratahs will tonight be relying on him running in the midfield, with the football in his big mitts, knocking aside defenders. He has become a consistent tryscorer, because he is always near the ball. That helps.
Tatafu Polota-Nau: An encouraging sign at Waratahs training early this week was Polota-Nau, with his sprained hand heavily strapped, sending accurate lineout throw after throw at Dan Vickerman. Elsewhere Polota-Nau's hooking work is excellent. No front-rower in Australia is more mobile than Polota-Nau, and his ability to make defence-busting runs turns him into one of the most dangerous players in the final. His lineout throwing has been his weakness, and that is gradually improving.
KEY CRUSADERS PLAYERSUsually the team that has the world's best five-eighth wins, and that has certainly been the case with Carter and the Crusaders, if not Carter with the All Blacks. But that may be more due to weaknesses in the All Blacks coaching staff. Nonetheless, the outcome of the final will depend on how Carter performs. If he is on song, the Crusaders are on their way to a seventh Super title. If he is off, the Waratahs are suddenly in with a chance. It's as simple as that.
Daniel Carter:
Richie McCaw: The "waste of time" study into why the All Blacks collapsed at the last World Cup unfairly placed blame on their skipper McCaw. He deserved better than that, especially as there is no more committed player than the Crusaders captain, the world's best No.7. Without doubt the best duel of the final will be between McCaw and Phil Waugh. They are hound dogs at the breakdown, and will be trying to annihilate each other. In the end, they will probably nullify each other but it will be fascinating to watch.
Brad Thorn: This dual international has proved in 2008 that he is an exceptional footballer. At 33, he remains a quality performer and looks as if he will shortly be back in the All Blacks colours. After several years in the league ranks, he returned for a second time to rugby this year and immediately became one of the Crusaders' most penetrative performers. In tandem with the extroverted Ali Williams, Thorn will provoke the Waratahs' second-row pairing of Dan Vickerman and Dean Mumm.
Greg Growden
