Marshall ready for Super 15 Final

Nelson Mail

For Tom Marshall, sidestepping a Kiwi male's coming of age tradition is easier to stomach when the alternative is drinking out of a newly minted Super rugby trophy.

The 21-year-old had been expecting to down a yard glass in his rugby clubrooms back in Nelson this weekend, but has happily exchanged one daunting experience for another – Saturday's Super 15 decider against the Queensland Reds.

Marshall celebrated his birthday yesterday, a low-key event dominated by the Crusaders' light training run, their first exercise since the arduous journey from South Africa.

"I guess it's turned out a bit differently," he mused.

"If I wasn't doing this I'd be having the standard 21st with family and friends."

Regardless of the outcome at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, Marshall has already received the greatest gift of all this year – a leading, albeit unintended role in the Crusaders' challenge for an eighth title.

A first-time Crusader on the basis of a secure debut season for Tasman in last year's national provincial championship, the utility back anticipated playing only a bit part in the Crusaders' star-studded backline.

However, when Israel Dagg, Sean Maitland and Adam Whitelock were casualties of the Crusaders' first trip to Cape Town, Marshall suddenly became an integral part of the back three.

Maitland is back but with Dagg's thigh injury now placing his World Cup hopes in jeopardy – and Whitelock's setback also season-ending – the odd man out on the Crusaders' backline was preferred ahead of the experienced Brent Ward.

"It couldn't have turned out better for me," said Marshall, who makes his 13th appearance of a breakthrough season against the Reds.

He has also experienced the Queensland cauldron on May 29 – while a packed Newlands on May 5 and again in last weekend's semifinal has fortified him for the biggest match of his career.

"That's helped me prepare for the occasion. They were sellout crowds, really loud ... after a couple of those it's not so daunting."

However, he still feels slightly intimidated by the company he keeps.

"Sometimes when I look at the programme before the game, you look through the whole team and there's 12 All Blacks," he said.

"It's pretty surreal to be surrounded by those quality players. Thankfully they've really embraced me; when I'm out there I feel part of the team."

Marshall's Tasman background and playing style has drawn comparisons with former Crusaders and All Black fullback Leon Macdonald, although Marshall was still ironing out deficiencies in his game, like linking with support players when counter-attacking.

Ad Feedback He was critical of his performance in the semifinal and admitted his combination with wings Zac Guildford and Maitland was still developing. "The good thing is I've got a lot of really good communicators around me. They all want me to do well," he said.

Crusaders assistant coach Daryl Gibson was confident Marshall would not be overawed by the pressures associated with the title decider.

"He's been remarkably composed ever since he came on as a reserve against the Stormers in Cape Town.

"Since then he's really grown as a player," he said.

"We knew he was a player of enormous potential and he really has exceeded all expectations this year."