Beware a scorned Crusaders side. The defending champions have avenged last year's shock loss to Moana Pasifka in ruthless style, crushing the cellar dwellers 50-21 in Albany.
By Jonty Dine of rnz.co.nz
Up by just three at the break, the Crusaders ran riot in the second, producing some scintillating running rugby in the rout.
Moana lost Julian Savea early to what looked like a broken arm before the Crusaders opened the scoring, Braydon Ennor showing tremendous strength to carry three defenders with him across the line.
Sevu Reece went in next to stretch his lead as Super Rugby's most prolific try scorer, finishing a scorcher for the visitors.
Sparked by a Will Jordan injection, the fullback offloaded infield and from there it was a beautiful exchange of passes, Chay Fihaki with the last one to Reece.
Moana pulled one back as Patrick Pellegrini found a deft offload for Lalomilo Lalomilo who broke clear and linked with Joel Lam to score against his old side.
Replacement Tevita Ofa made it two in quick succession to give Moana the lead, the winger showing great gas to get on the outside of his opposite.
The Crusaders quickly restored their lead though, Cooper Grant sending a pinpoint kick across for Chay Fihaki to pouch and plant to give them a narrow 17-14 half-time lead.
The second half however, belonged to the Crusaders.
Fainga'anuku kicked off the scoring spree with a mesmeric forty metre run turning defenders inside out.
George Bell barged his way over for back to back, to really put things out of reach, before debutant Kurtis Macdonald scored with his first touch from a Fihaki cut out ball.
Fihaki capped his stellar night with a second as he exploded through the line and skinned the final man to score his second, Moana getting a late consolation courtesy of an intercept for Siaosi Nginingini.
'We've got the cattle': Penney warns Crusaders just getting started
Revenge served. The Crusaders dished up a vengeful performance against Moana in Albany, to all but banish memories of their loss to the side at home in 2025.
"They stung us deeply last year," said coach Rob Penney.
"I wouldn't say revenge, but it was certainly something that we were well aware of, there was a lot more physical presence about us this year compared with last year."
The defeat was buried in ruthless fashion, the Crusaders putting fifty on the proud franchise in their first appearance on the North Shore for the year.
After a lacklustre effort from a Will Jordan-less Crusaders against the Blues, Penney threw the challenge down to his backs to take the pressure off their superstar fullback.
Step up Sevu Reece, Chay Fihaki, Braydon Ennor and Leicester Faingaʻanuku.
The quartet were lethal with ball in hand alongside Jordan, combining for five scorching tries and some scintillating running rugby.
"You start rattling those names off, and how blessed are we with the talent that we've got? We've just got to keep supplying the opportunities. The ability for us to have multiple threats across the park is such a key for us, we've got the cattle."
Penney worried too much reliance was being put on their superstar fullback, who was also handed captaincy duties for the clash with David Havili sidelined.
"Will stepped in and took over that leadership role superbly. So really, we didn't miss a beat."
After a rough start to their campaign, both Jordan and Penney felt things were clicking for the defending champs.
"It's nice to get back-to-back victories, we're a dangerous side and I think there's still growth for us." Jordan said.
It wasn't all smooth sailing for the Cantabs, up by just three at half-time, before the floodgates burst open.
"The job was not fully done, we felt that was close towards the back end of the first half, and the boys just went to work in the second half, it was awesome," said Penney.
Penney said his side was still far from the finished product.
"We still have a wee way to go. I think we've got a lot in us, and so I hope we have the ability to unleash further."
A scary prospect for opposition sides.
"I hope so," said Penney.
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