Waratahs have a 'spy' in the camp
The Waratahs will rely heavily on the insights of assistant coach Daryl Gibson when they tackle the seven-time champion Crusaders in the 2014 Super Rugby Final.
Gibson, a former All Black centre and Crusaders stalwart, will be a key figure as he Sydney-based franchise build towards their first home Final and a maiden title.
The Tahs have lost their past 11 encounters with the Crusaders, including the 2005 and 2008 title deciders, but have identified Gibson's expert insight into the competition's perennial superpowers as priceless.
He featured as a player in the Crusaders' first four championship wins – in 1998, 1999, 2000 and the untouchable, unbeaten 2002 side – before being Robbie Deans' assistant coach when they denied the Waratahs in 2008.
"He's our mole," Waratahs scrumhalf Nick Phipps told The Daily Telegraph in his post-match reaction to their 26-8 semifinal defeat of the Brumbies at the weekend.
"He knows the New Zealand teams inside and out so we'll have a lot of detail to do.
"He's been there, done that. He's played all those games, so he'll be having a lot to say during the week.
"It's good for us. We're able to have that inside knowledge and know that style of play that they're going to play and how to counter that."
All up, the mighty Crusaders have contested 10 finals, while this will only be the third for the Tahs.
Legends Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Kieran Reid stand squarely in the way of the home team.
"They've got finals experience across the board, All Blacks everywhere," Phipps said ahead of the teams' first meeting for 2014.
Coach Michael Cheika, though, wouldn't have it any other way and has wanted the Waratahs to "earn their stripes" with victory over the best since before a ball was kicked this season.
"Then we can honestly sit back and say that we went the hardest route possible and that we've done the very best we can," Phipps said.
"But we've made it very clear that a semi-final win is awesome, but no one really remembers second place.
"So we've got a lot of work to do and we're keeping our heads down … it's going to be an epic week."
Source: The Daily Telegraph
