5 Super Rugby finals facts

-- Crusaders from south island city Christchurch have appeared in a record 11 finals since Super Rugby was launched in 1996, winning seven and losing four.

-- The clash with the Johannesburg-based Lions, who they beat in eight of 11 previous meetings, will be their first title decider against South African opponents.  

-- Lions hope to avoid becoming only the second side after the Crusaders to lose successive finals, having been beaten by the Hurricanes in Wellington last season.

-- Prop Wyatt Crockett and No. 8 Kieran Read are the only current Crusaders who helped defeat the NSW Waratahs of Australia in the 2008 final, the last of their seven final victories.

-- New Zealand teams have won three of four finals against South Africa opponents, but Waikato Chiefs were on the wrong end of a 61-17 thrashing by Northern Bulls in the 2009 decider.