Crusaders blindside flanker Jordan Taufua (centre) leaves the field with a broken arm during the Super Rugby semifinal against the Hurricanes.

A broken arm has turned Jordan Taufua's dream of winning a second Super Rugby title against the Lions into a nightmare.

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson confirmed blindside flanker Taufua requires surgery to repair the bone he busted in the first half of the 30-12 victory over the Hurricanes in the semifinal at AMI Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday night.

For the man known as "the Beast", the timing of the injury to the same arm he also broke while representing Tasman in the Mitre 10 Cup final against Canterbury last year couldn't be worse.

Not only does it destroy Taufua's hopes of performing in the final in Christchurch next Saturday night, his chances of earning his first All Blacks cap during the Rugby Championship appear remote because it could take around 12 weeks to recover from the operation.

READ MORES:

* Lions roar into Super final with six try win

* Crusaders blow away the Hurricanes

* Mo'unga outshines Barrett: Gifford

* Reason: Vive les Crusaders

* Read, Retallick boost All Blacks: Cully

* Boyd's hollow finish as Hurricanes bow out

Taufua, who was named in the All Blacks squad for the French series in June but was cut down by a calf injury at training, is expected to be replaced by Wallaby international Pete Samu for the final with Heiden Bedwell-Curtis providing loose forward cover on the bench.

Second five-eighth Ryan Crotty received what Robertson described as a "bell ringer" late in the game, and passed the initial HIA. He will be monitored in coming days.

Reserve hooker Seb Siataga also has to have surgery on a broken arm after appearing to be in the receiving end of a highly questionable ruck clean-out by Hurricanes centre Jordie Barrett.

PHOTOSPORT Crusaders midfielder Ryan Crotty will be monitored during the build-up to the Super Rugby final after suffering a head knock in the semi against the Hurricanes.

Robertson is burning through hookers at such an alarming rate, he must be tempted to ask Taylor to steer clear of vigorous contact sessions in coming days.

With Andrew Makalio nursing a calf muscle problem, and Ben Funnell suffering a season-ending knee injury earlier in the year, fourth-string rake Sam Anderson-Heather is expected to deputise for Taylor against the Lions.

Substitute tighthead prop Mike Alaalatoa is also under an injury cloud: "He tweaked his back and we will know in the next 24 hours how bad that is, that's all we know at this stage," Robertson said.

If Alaalatoa is unavailable, Donald Brighouse or Chris King are options as back-up to Owen Franks.

GETTY IMAGES Sam Anderson-Heather is likely to be asked to sit on the Crusaders bench as back-up to hooker Codie Taylor in the Super Rugby final.

After watching the Lions beat the Waratahs 44-26 in their semi in Johannesburg, the Crusaders won't have been surprised by the methods employed by the victors.

Clinical set pieces, two tries to man-mountain hooker Malcolm Marx from driving mauls, and an ability to play with width. Wing Aphiwe Dyantyi also provided some unpredictability when he scored a long-range cracker off a chip and chase.

"Their strengths are the reason they have got to the final," Robertson emphasised. "Their ability to maul, and they have got incredible guys who can turn a ball over in Kwagga (Smith) and Malcolm Marx. They are just an abrasive, big pack."

The Crusaders' 25-17 win over the Lions in the final at altitude in Jo'burg last year was undeniably one of the club's greatest victories. Now it's the Lions' turn to deal with the long travel schedule, and a reduced training week ahead of their third final in as many years.

It is the sort of angle Robertson might tap into during the week, telling his squad the Lions will be feverish to issue payback after Smith was red carded for taking Crusaders fullback David Havili in the air last year.

"They have been hurt a couple of times in finals," Robertson said. "We know what happened last year with the red card, the controversy and we held on in the end there.

"It is going to take everything. We understand the enormity of it against such worthy opponents."