Few people have as much background knowledge of the Reds team hosting the Super 15 final as Otago co-coach Phil Mooney. The former Reds coach tells Hayden Meikle how he believes the Australian underdogs can upset the Crusaders.
Phil Mooney is as proud a Queenslander as they come, and will be cheering loudly from Dunedin if the Reds get up to beat the Crusaders tomorrow night.
Mooney rose through the ranks in Brisbane and coached the Reds in 2008 and 2009.
On paper, he was not a roaring success. His teams finished 12th and 13th in the then Super 14, and he was sacked with a year to go on his contract.
But they still speak warmly of Mooney in the Sunshine State, and Reds fans appreciate the job he did building a team. Mooney introduced or developed nearly every player in the current Reds squad.
"I'm born and bred in Queensland. I've had an association with Queensland rugby since I was a young boy," Mooney said.
"So I follow the Reds closely and I'm really happy to see them performing well.
"I do take a lot of pride in their success. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't also some element of frustration that I'm not there with them. But Ewen [McKenzie] has done a fantastic job getting them to where they're at."
Mooney said the majority of the Reds players came through local school and academy programmes.
Their success, after years of development, provided an example for all rugby teams, including Otago. There was "no quick fix" in the sport.
Other thoughts from Mooney ahead of the final:
Quade Cooper
"I'm not at all surprised that he's where he is now. He was introduced as an 18-year-old.
"He was fast-tracked and had to do his learning in a very tough position in the toughest competition in the world.
"Quade always had class. Where he is going so well now is the fact he's doing it consistently, week in week out.
"He's always been capable of doing the sublime. Now he performs the key roles of first five so effectively."
The breakdown
"The Reds know their game very well. They've got a hard-working pack with some good ball-carriers.
"They're able to get gain-line carries, which means the clean-out is not quite the battle it could be.
"But I guess Richie McCaw is the gold standard when it comes to the breakdown. So it's a massive challenge for the Reds."
The tight five
"That's going to be the key.
Obviously it's going to be critical for the Reds.
"The Crusaders were unbelievable against the Stormers. They just dominated them.
"I'm sure the Reds boys will be bracing for what's going to hit them. They must compete."
Home advantage
"I certainly think it will be significant for the Reds. Any time you're playing at home in front of 50,000 people, you get a boost.
"The Crusaders have had to travel from Africa. So there must be some advantage for the Reds there.
"But then the Crusaders have taken every challenge thrown at them. And one thing about Brisbane is that there will be a lot of ex-pat Kiwis coming out and cheering for the Crusaders."
Final prediction
"I think the Reds will just get across the line. They've beaten the Crusaders a couple of times now.
"It will be extremely close. And you'd be a brave man to go against the Crusaders. But I'll go with my heart."
