Phil Gifford: The seven key factors in Super Rugby final
The TAB fractionally favours the Blues, $1.80 for the win to the Crusaders' $ 1.92. Eden Park will be packed for Super Rugby Pacific final at Eden. Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea, Tom Robinson and Will Jordan are the game breakers for Auckland Blues. Richie Mo'unga is in stunning form for Crusader's. Will Robertson and Leon MacDonald are good friends and former coaches. They have been in three title-winning Crusades teams. They are aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Phil Bennett died this week aged 73. He was a former Welsh and Lions flyhalf. In 1973 for the Barbarians in Cardiff he sparked the greatest try scored against the All Blacks. Bennett was captain of the most disliked Lions team to tour New Zealand in 1977. He suffered through the wettest winter here for decades. His team snubbed other teams at after-match functions and had a manager, George Burrell.
