“OUR support goes with the Australian side from here on in – we’d like to see them bring it home,” and with that Brumbies captain Ben Mowen pledged his support for the Waratahs.

It’s a situation unique to Super Rugby within Australian sport where fierce provincial ties are up against a sense of national pride, where this week rugby fans will be encouraged to overlook their dislike for the Waratahs for the greater good of the local game.

The Waratahs will on Saturday host a Super Rugby final for the very first time when they take on long-time nemesis, the Crusaders, at ANZ Stadium.

Th Waratahs won through to the decider via a hard-fought 26-8 victory over the Brumbies, creating a similar situation to 2011 when the Reds took on the Crusaders in Brisbane for the title.

The general consensus back then was the Reds had Australia’s support, with the nation’s rugby fans keen to see a local side claim the Super Rugby title for first time since 2004.

And it’s one died-in-the-wool Queenslander and former Wallabies fullback Greg Martin expects will be repeated this weekend for the Waratahs.

“It doesn’t burn as deep as it does in rugby league, the dislike or the hatred,” Martin said when asked if Reds fans would cheer on the Tahs.

“Yeah sure when they’re playing each other but even Ben Mowen said it the other night. He said right we’ve had our go, now let’s support the other Australian team.”

One of the long-running criticisms of Australia’s Super Rugby fans is that they lack the tribal nature of their NRL, AFL and even A-League counterparts.

But in those competitions there is no international element – apart from New Zealand’s Warriors in the NRL and the involvement of A-League clubs in the Asian Champions League – meaning situations like the one on hand for the Waratahs this week seldom arise.

And for a code that relies so heavily on the success of its national side a Waratahs victory this weekend would provide a major boost for the Wallabies ahead of The Rugby Championship.

When the Reds won in 2011 Australia went on to win the Tri Nations and Martin believes the prospect of a strong Wallabies team and the exciting nature of the Waratahs’ play will help capture the country’s support.

“I think it’s no surprise that Cheika is also from Randwick – where Ewen (McKenzie) was from – they’ve got the best understanding of anyone with a club background on playing entertaining running rugby,” Martin said.

“And I think people will put aside any ‘we don’t like NSW’ because of the style of rugby they’re playing; it’s not just the winning.”

“It’s attracted their own fans to start with A And then B, everyone is actually excited because 10 of these guys will actually be in the Wallabies in a few weeks’ time.”

So should Reds fans overlook their hatred of all things blue? Will those in the nation’s capital heed Mowen’s call and cheer on the Tahs? And what about the rugby outposts of Perth and Melbourne?

Do the Waratahs become the Wallabies for one night only?

Martin isn’t sure whether the Brumbies had the added support for their title showdown with the Chiefs last year, purely because of the style they were playing.

But that won’t be the case for the Waratahs this weekend.

“The Brumbies had general support but I feel they didn’t have everyone’s (in Australia) support because they went ‘all right, they’re winning but it’s a bit boring’,” Martin said.

“Whereas this year (at the Waratahs) over the last few weeks especially, I think everyone’s just attracted by that style of rugby to start with and then they’re the Australian team against the Crusaders.”

“I get the feeling that a lot of people, apart from the Kiwis living here, reckon the Crusaders are a champion team but they’ve had plenty of success – it might be time for the NSW team.”