6.50pm Bringing back memories of last year, there’s fog decending on AMI Stadium, nowhere near as thick as last year’s pea soup fog, but it’s there. Score updates here and on Twitter.

7.10pm Opshop just finished their prematch show. I’m just lookup up some stats, the Crusaders have won only lost four of 14 encounters with the Waratahs, winning by an average score of 32-22 and scoring four tries to two. History looks good, but what will tonight bring?

7.20pm Both teams are warming up as the cheerleaders dance. Waratahs look very structured and rigid, while the Crusaders have had some time to do their own thing before coming together to do some formal warm ups. Thankfully the fog appears to have lifted.

7.27pm Am I a nerd for being slightly star struck by guys like Andrew Saville and David Disoma? Crusaders horsemen entertaining the capacity crowd and they’re loving every minute of it, flashbulbs going off all over the stadium

7.30pm And now I’m sitting behind Hamish McKay, I wonder if I should give him a copy of my clippings? The big sword is gone, the crowd is ready, the players are just about to come out. All future updates will have the time elapsed in the game rather than the actual time.

2 mins Big run down the blind side by McCaw, but the ball was knocked down at the ensuing breakdown

3 mins Penalty against Al Baxter at the scrum, Dan Carter has the chance to open the scoring, and he does, 3-0 Crusaders

5 mins Waratahs manufacture an overlap from a turnover, but the pass goes into touch

7 mins Try to the Waratahs! Cross kick from Beale, claimed by Lachie Turner with a brilliant leap over Carter. Conversion misses. 5-3 Waratahs

13 mins Crusaders’ tactic of putting the ball high and chasing seems to be working, Waratahs back three look shaky.

18 mins Crusaders camped on the Waratahs line, but unable to get over. Ball went wide, Laulala cut inside and the ball was turned over.

21 mins Waratahs have given away a lot of free kicks and penalties in their own end, referee is talking to the captain now. Penalty against Palu for offside at the tackle, Carter lining up the shot at goal.but misses. Remains 5-3 Waratahs.

24 mins Waratahs try! A double for Turner! Phil Waugh made the intercept on his own 22, Waratahs swept downfield where Turner kicked the ball, then won the race and dotted down. Beale converts and it’s 12-3 to the Waratahs.

31 mins Yet another penalty against the Waratahs. Referee has given a stern talking to captain Phil Waugh, but no yellow card. One is almost certainly coming if the Waratahs do that again. Carter taking a shot at goal, it’s over! 12-6 Waratahs.

37 mins Crusaders try! Spreading the ball wide one way, then the other and Mose Tuiali’i finds himself unmarked on the right flank and crashes over in the corner. Conversion is wide, 12-11 Waratahs.

Half time First half was dominated by the Crusaders, but the Waratahs’ line rarely looked like cracking with only two real line breaks by the Crusaders. The Waratahs have taken their chances when presented and deserve to be in front, but can they keep up this defence or will they fold much like the Hurricanes did last week. We’ll know in about 55 minutes.

43 mins Crusaders go oh so close but Bateman doesn’t pass with an overlap outside him. However the referee spotted Mumm’s tackle was high and gives a penalty. Carter kicks it and the Crusaders hit the front 14-12.

55 mins Kieran Read appeared to have scored a try but an assistant referee spotted a punch by Brad Thorn. No try and Thorn to the sin bin.

66 mins Thorn back from the sin bin, no damage done. Getting very tense here as the Crusaders launch another attacking raid.

70 mins Carter slots a drop goal! Sustained pressure turned into points, but is it enough? 17-12 Crusaders.

73 mins Waratahs appear to be panicking, no structure to their attack.

74 mins Crusaders make a break but it’s broken up by an early tackle from Phil Waugh. Carter lining up the shot at goal from around 47 metres out. IT’S OVER! 20-12 Crusaders!

Full time It’s all over! A seventh Super rugby title for the Crusaders and a fitting send off to long serving players Reuben Thorne and Caleb Ralph, as well as their coach Robbie Deans. Absorbing a great deal of pressure throughout the second half, particularly when they were down to 14 men. Once Thorn returned to the field the Crusaders took the game by the throat and pinned the Waratahs in their own end, forcing them to play catch up rugby. Outstanding effort from the whole team, but in particular the loose trio who threw themselves into their work and outplayed their opposites at the breakdown.