The Blues made a mockery of their recent record against the Crusaders, dominating the defending Super Rugby Pacific champions at Eden Park tonight.
By Jonty Dine of RNZ
Wing Caleb Clark showcased his class with a hattrick of tries, as the Blues cruised home 29-13.
Beauden Barrett earned a late call-up to start, after Stephen Perofeta was scratched with a calf complaint.
The Blues made a blistering start, with a brace to Clark as the home side cut the Crusaders to ribbons out wide early.
Sevens star Cody Vai'i then lit the stadium up with a stunner.
Barrett fired a trademark crosskick to his winger, the bounce initially evaded Vai'i, but he went full stretch to gather and grass it inches before the deadball line.
The Crusaders, who staged an incredible comeback against the Chiefs last weekend, began reducing the deficit, as All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor broke away from a maul and dotted down.
The Cantabs went back to back, when halfback Noah Hotham went to the short-side and found first-five Rivez Reihana unmarked on the right flank to waltz over untouched, as the Blues held onto a 19-13 halftime lead.
The second half began just as the first, with Clarke cruising into the corner for his third, courtesy of some slick hands through the Blues backline.
The Crusaders were kept scoreless in the second half, as their clunky attack could make no inroads into the solid Blues defence.
A late Barrett penalty sealed the deal for the Blues, just their third win in the last 13 encounters between the great rivals.
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