Super Rugby Final - Waratahs or Crusaders?

Will Saturday night finally end a drought of success for these fans?

An enthralling Super Rugby season reaches its conclusion on Saturday night when the Waratahs host the Crusaders at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

After spending much of its existence underperforming compared to its fellow Aussie franchises, the Brumbies and Reds, the Waratahs finally now have a chance to win their own championship in its own backyard.

Indeed, having the Final in Sydney is not just the outcome that New South Welshmen wanted at the start of the season - Australian rugby has been struggling to compete with rugby league and even football (association and Australian rules) in recent times in the country's most populous city and state and the Waratahs' good form has meant crowds at Allianz and ANZ Stadiums have been healthier and better than they have been in recent seasons - boosted no doubt by having quite a few Sunday afternoon games.

A win for the Waratahs would certainly cap off the good work by coach Michael Cheika over the last two seasons to turn around a talented yet underperforming franchise which had lost players to the Brumbies, Rebels and even the Force, and remind people that New South Wales remains Australia's rugby union heart.

As for the Crusaders, the obvious goal here is title number 8 - perhaps it is a bit of a surprise to see the Crusaders make it this far, particularly if you considered the criticisms by many that they were an abomination and disgrace to rugby for their more boring style of rugby. In fact, the Crusaders have been more expansive in recent weeks - after that dour defeat at the hands of the Hurricanes in Wellington, the Crusaders won their last games against the Blues and Highlanders fairly convincingly and then took apart a tired looking Sharks side in the semifinal.

Dour or not, the Crusaders remain a quality side laden with All Blacks in the backs and forwards but like the Waratahs, perhaps have underperformed a bit in recent years. Therefore, it is up to coach Todd Blackadder to finally crack the big time and win a Super Rugby title in his 5th season with the franchise.

The Crusaders' last trip to Australia for a Super Rugby title ended in disappointment - they lost a tight one to the Reds after a slow start and memories of Radike Samo running rampant in open space will still hurt the likes of Read, McCaw, Carter, Whitelock et. al.

Tip - Crusaders to beat Waratahs by 1 point.

Waratahs: Israel Folau, Alofa Alofa, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper (capt), Stephen Hoiles, Jacques Potgieter, Kane Douglas, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson.

Reserves: Tola Latu, Paddy Ryan, Jeremy Tilse, Will Skelton, Mitch Chapman, Pat McCutcheon, Brendan McKibbon, Matt Carraro, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Peter Betham (two to be omitted).