Good morning!

Hansie's tip for the Super 12 2005 final is up! He's tipping the Crusaders by a considerable margin. Yeah well.... I'll make up my mind who I am going for sometime between now and kick off on Saturday afternoon.

In the meantime.....

The Crusaders have named their team for the final - unchanged, and what a formidable bunch they are! Thirteen All Blacks.

Crusaders team for 2005 Super 12 final:
David Hewett - Loose Head Prop
Corey Flynn - Hooker
Greg Somerville - Tight Head Prop
Chris Jack - Lock
Ross Filipo - Lock
Reuben Thorne - Blindside Flanker
Richie McCaw - Openside Flanker (Captain)
Mose Tuiali'i - Number 8
Justin Marshall - Scrumhalf
Daniel Carter - Flyhalf
Scot Hamilton - Left Wing
Aaron Mauger - Inside Centre
Caleb Ralph - Outside Centre
Rico Gear - Right Wing
Leon MacDonald - Fullback

Bench: Tone Kopelani, Campbell Johnstone, Sam Broomhall, Johnny Leo'o, Jamie Nutbrown, Andrew Mehrtens, Casey Laulala

Waratahs news.......

Brendan Cannon and Lote Tuqiri do not fly out until tomorrow to Christchurch to join the rest of their team - both the boys' wives are due to give birth on the weekend, so McKenzie has cut them some slack to spend time with the girls. Sounds like McKenzie has some brains!! Here's wishing all the best to both the guys and their wives :) Hold on girls until they get back Sunday morning!

Send a message of support to the Tahs - there's an email link on their website.

More later...

Good morning!

Hansie's wrap up of the semis is up. Have a read of his yellow card/red card proposal.

For those of you who didn't catch the Heinken Cup final overnight - I'm sure some people actually sleep at night, you missed a tight tussle of rugby. Toulouse got up by a point 18-17 in extra time, their flyhalf Frederic Michalak starring for his team by kicking a penalty goal in the last minute of play to level the scores and put the game into extra time. He then kicked a penalty and a drop goal in extra time. Nice one!

Spare a thought for Toulouse's coach Guy Noves. When the whistle had blown he tried to jump into the crowd to get his son and bring him onto the paddock to watch the presentation. The Scottish security guards and police apparently didn't know who he was and they dragged him off to the stadium's temporary police station and detained him for more than 15 mins. Yep, he missed the presentation ceremony. Extraordinary!!

Cheers!

It was a bit scrappy at times, but the Waratahs emerged the victors in their semi final against the Bulls in Sydney last night 23-13. Good on them!! That bonus point miss that enabled the Crusaders to finish top of the table may come back to haunt them though.

The final is next Saturday night at Jade Stadium - kick off 7.35pm Kiwi time, 5.35pm real time :) I'd really love to be there.... then again, if the Crusaders flog the Tahs then I probably would be best staying right here!!

Later!