Today we're taking a look at the Canterbury Crusaders - easily the greatest Super rugby side of all time. However, there have been a lot of changes in the Canterbury region, and it's going to be interesting to see how these changes affect the Crusaders.

The biggest change is that Robbie Deans has departed, and we all know the impact he had on the side. Todd Blackadder has been given the task of filling the giant boots left by Deans, and while he has experience coaching at the provincial level, this step up will surely test his abilities to keep the Crusaders at the top of the food chain.

The biggest thing to Blackadder's advantage is that he has been able to stick with players from within the Canterbury and Tasman region - only Jason MacDonald has been drafted from Otago. This means the squad will be very familiar with one another, and will be able to gel together quickly. It also helps that the large majority of the squad have experience with the Crusaders.

Life at the Crusdaders will definitely be different without the likes of Ruben Thorne, Caleb Ralph and Dan Carter (off on his sabbatical...), but there is a lot of new talent emerging in the region - none more so than young Colin Slade, who proved capable of filling in for Dan Carter during the Air New Zealand Cup.

Thomas Waldrom has made the move down south from Wellington to help bolster the loose forwards, and when you consider that they already have McCaw and Kieran Read, it makes for a pretty exciting loose forward trio.

Whether or not the Crusaders can continue to dominate like they have for the past decade is any one's guess, but we don't expect too much to change. They may not be quite as filled with superstars as they have been in the past, but don't count them out.

They are the kings when it comes to Super 14 rugby, and it'll take something truly special to dethrone them.

Here's their full squad:

Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury), Ben Franks (Tasman), Owen Franks (Canterbury), Bronson Murray (Canterbury), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Jason MacDonald (Otago, draft), Brad Thorn (Tasman), Ross Filipo (Canterbury), Issac Ross (Canterbury), Michael Patterson (Canterbury), Kieran Read (Canterbury), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), George Whitelock (Canterbury), Thomas Waldrom (Canterbury), Nasi Manu (Canterbury), Jonathan Poff (Tasman), Andy Ellis (Canterbury), Kahn Fotuali'i (Tasman), Colin Slade (Canterbury), Stephen Brett (Canterbury), Tim Bateman (Canterbury), Ryan Crotty (Canterbury), Casey Laulala (Canterbury), Adam Whitelock (Canterbury), Kade Poki (Tasman), Sean Maitland (Canterbury), Jared Payne (Canterbury), Leon MacDonald (Canterbury).

So -the All Blacks Assistant Coach, Steve Hansen, is contemplating stepping down - with his eyes fixed on the vacant Crusaders job, which is still up for grabs.

Hansen has experience coaching in Canterbury, leading them to two NPC championships in 1997 and 2001, before heading to Wales to coach their national side in 2002 and 2003.

After coaching Wales in the 2003 World Cup, Hansen joined Graham Henry and Wayne Smith as an Assistant Coach of the All Blacks. Now, though, it seems that he has aspirations to coach the All Blacks after the 2011 World Cup.

With so many of our top coaches now working overseas, Hansen sees the opportunity of coaching the All Blacks beyond 2011 as a very real possibility.

Coaching the Crusaders would be a great opportunity for Hansen to develop his own coaching skills, and really - what better place to do it than with the seven-time champs?

Todd Blackadder has been rumoured to be in the running for an Assistant job under Hansen, as has Aussie Maclean. Blackadder would make a great deputy, as he has strong ties to the region and would help some of the die-hard Robbie Deans fans accept the idea of Hansen coaching in Canterbury (Hansen's links to Henry may well make him unpopular down south...).

Blackadder has also been linked with Mark Hammet, who Deans believed should be the next Crusaders coach - but we think it would be better for him to join Hansen's team, as Hammet's coaching credentials are limited.

While Hansen has not officially put his hand up, the chances of him leaving the All Blacks environment are high. If he is successful in his bid, he may leave the All Blacks after the Tri Nations to concentrate on the Crusaders role, missing the end of year tour to the Northern Hemisphere.

Of course, Hansen would love to keep his role with the All Blacks, too - but you can't have your cake and eat it, can you?

The 2008 Super 14 final will be the last crusade for three of Canterbury's favourite sons. Coach Robbie Deans, Reuben Thorn and Caleb Ralph will all say goodbye to the Crusaders franchise that has given them (and us) many great memories.

Robbie Deans is leaving New Zealand after missing out on the All Blacks coaching job that went to Henry (again - don't start us on that one...), and as of Monday will begin a new chapter - as Head Coach of the Wallabies. No offense, Deans - but we just can't wish you any luck on this one.

After the disappointment of last years early exit from the World Cup (it still pains us to mention it...), Deans seemed a shoo-in for the All Blacks role. But, for reasons oly known by the NZRFU, Mr Henry was given another chance. The Wallabies, though, were all too happy to swoop in and claim Deans for themselves - we're just hoping it doesn't come back to bite us...

All that aside, though, and Robbie's focus will be on the match against the Warratahs tonight...although we're sure we'll have one eye (maybe two??) on the Aussie boys. You can hardly blaim him...

Crusader veterans Reuben Thorne and Caleb Ralph will also be hanging up their red and black jersey's for the last time, and are both off to Japan to earn some Yen before wrapping up their rugby careers.

Ralph will be hoping he makes it on, tonight, as he's starting off the bench. Surely he'll be given some decent game time? An unsung hero of the Crusaders team, Ralph has amassed a total of 112 Super Rugby games (including a handful for the Chiefs and Blues), not to mention an impressive tally of 58 tries - which has him sitting only 1 try behind record holder Doug Howlett. It would be great to see Ralph score, and equal Howletts record. Or, even better, score twice...

Thorne ends his Crusaders career with an astonishing 128 games behind him - many of which were as captain. Thorne (although often critisized for being 'invisible' on the field) has always had a strong work ethic. He may be rugbys Mr Invisible, but even if you couldn't see him - you knew he was getting the job done.

All three men have given the Canterbury region plenty to be proud of, and to win a 7th Super 14 title would cap off three excellent careers.

The only change to the Crusaders lineup is Ti'i Paulo, who comes in for the injured Cory Flynn after he broke his arm with 12 minutes remaining in the semi against the Hurricanes.

The Warratahs will also be looking to send their coach out on a high, as Ewan McKenzie was given the boot after a slow start to the season (oops). Rumours have already started to fly about where he'll be coaching next year, including some talk that he may be in line for the vacant Crusaders job. Strangly, the Warratahs haven't asked if he would consider staying on for next year - crazy, if you ask us.

So, as the Super 14 comes to a close for another year, we turn our attention (after the final, of course) to the International season, just around the corner.

Bring it on!