Tony Johnson

Look, I tend to agree.

I think it's one of those ones where you've got to wait and see what the lineups are.

If the Hurricanes do rest a few, the thing is the Crusaders will be hell-bent on winning.

They're

They're unbeaten at their new stadium and it'll be full again and again.

God, that was my first experience there.

And what a fantastic asset, not just for rugby, but for the whole city that is.

And so that, I think, becomes the 16th player for the Crusaders.

I don't know, I'd be...

I've just got a sneaky feeling that the Crusaders might do this, but boy, the way they've played this year, it's very hard to bet against the Hurricanes, I'd have to say.

Yeah, and you think about the games that they've dropped, one was a bit of a lottery in Fiji in atrocious conditions, and I think there was an intercept pass in it, and so they didn't win that one, and they're not exactly the lone ranger there.

And then there was obviously that thrill of the extra time game in Hamilton, which again, almost comes down to a bit of a who gets to swing the sword sort of thing.

One opportunity, you take it, game over.

And so every question pretty much that's been asked of them this year, they have answered.

No longer do you have that old expect the unexpected used to be the thing.

It was basically a metaphor for we're as unpredictable as all hell and we're erratic and one week will be great and the next week we'll lose to someone we should win.

That's all gone.

This is a really good, as we've mentioned, well-coached team, well-balanced team, some startling talent, but a work ethic about it.

And I think they're feeding off a really good, positive coaching staff that has empowered these guys with self-belief.

It's the end of the season approaching.