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'Crusaders not worried about altitude' - Taylor

Cape Town - The Crusaders will not be worrying about Johannesburg's high altitude when they take on the Lions in Saturday's Super Rugby final.

That was the word from the seven-time champions' hooker Codie Taylor who revealed that concern with the altitude were allayed by their team doctor who told the players the high altitude didn't affect bodies as it is more of a mental thing.

"Our doctor told us that it doesn't affect you," he said.

"It is high altitude but physiologically it doesn't affect your body.

"It's just more of a mindset. That's the way we're looking at it this week, we've just got to push through it and just get the headspace right."

Taylor said by getting to South Africa on Sunday, they had a normal week of preparation even if Monday and Tuesday were eased off from the usual days due to the travel and recovery.

The 26-year-old, who signed a new long-term deal through to 2021 with New Zealand Rugby, expects an epic battle against the Lions.

"They're a good team and they went to their strengths in that second half and kept the Hurricanes guessing and it paid off for them so for us it is about playing the game we've been playing all year," he added.

"We like to apply pressure in different areas and hopefully we can exploit a few of theirs. It's going to be an 82-minute game, it's not going to go 80, it's probably going to go longer than that.

"We've just got to be prepared for anything and work really hard to get the job done," he said.

The Lions had scored the most tries off mauls in the competition and had used it to effect to gain momentum over the Hurricanes in their semifinal while not letting any tries from that area in.

"It's going to be an awesome challenge for us to step up with them being at home and to take it to them," he added.

"We take pride in our defence and see it as a great weapon for us."

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