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Ex-Crusaders coach, captain set for Tokyo showdown

Former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, and his one-time Crusaders captain Todd Blackadder, go head-to-head on Sunday as the unbeaten Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights take on Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo in the final of Japan Rugby League One.

A victory by the Wild Knights, who are unbeaten in 17 matches this season, would hand Deans his sixth title in Japan, one more than he won during his stellar career in Super Rugby with the Crusaders.

The former All Blacks fullback won the first of those with Blackadder his captain, when the Crusaders shocked the Brumbies 20-19 on a freezing Canberra night in one of the epic Super Rugby finals.

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