It's back to the Super Rugby penthouse for the Crusaders following their 57-24 bonus-point clobbering of the Stormers in Christchurch on Saturday night.
That makes it eight wins from eight for the red and black machine, although there would be little time to celebrate their return to the pinnacle of the competition log because on Sunday morning they fly to South Africa for their next matches against the Cheetahs and Bulls.
![Fast starter: Left winger George Bridge had bagged a hat-trick before halftime.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170729160155im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/q/e/1/u/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvqeg6.png/1492854223024.jpg)
Given the way the Hurricanes blitzed the Brumbies 56-21 in Napier on Friday night, and briefly pounced to the No 1 spot, there was a sense of anticipation prior to this match at AMI Stadium.
Are the Crusaders playing better than the Hurricanes? On his effort you would have to lean towards the negative.
![Crowded out: Scott Barrett is wrapped up.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170729160155im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/q/e/1/x/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvqeg6.png/1492854223024.jpg)
Although they burst out of the blocks with a hat-trick of tries to left winger George Bridge, and No 8 Kieran Read contributed a double prior to being substituted at the break, to lead 36-3 after the first half they caused some anxiety for the 12,867 fans when they got the wobbles in the third quarter.
This is sometimes the case in sport isn't it? It doesn't matter if it is the wee nippers running around in the junior grades, or the old pros in the big leagues, when a team runs up a big lead in the first spell they inexplicably reach for the pillow and night shades.
So there was some concern when the Stormers replied with tries to wingers Cheslin Kolbe - an intercept of a long pass by Richie Mo'unga - and Bjorn Basson.
Did it change the momentum? Nope. Because the Crusaders reverted back to that old ace in the pack when they got a penalty deep inside the Stormers half.
Skipper Sam Whitelock could have called for goalkicker Mo'unga to have a whack at the sticks, but instead selected a lineout and following the inevitable drive the huge form of replacement prop Mike Alaalatoa rose from the pile-up and in a mood to celebrate.
Minutes later another man possession fresh legs, loose forward Pete Samu, swooped on a loose ball and sprinted about 80 metres to grab a spectacular runaway effort.
That opened the flood gates. Game, set and match the hosts.
Since Super Rugby began way back in 1996, the Stormers have failed to win in Christchurch, and seeds of this defeat were sown early in the contest.
When teams are dominating as the Crusaders did by unloading cheeky one-handed passes through cheeky geezers like fullback David Havili and hooker Codie Taylor, you are going to find you get the rub of the green and they got a few kind calls by the officials.
Mo'unga earned the man of the match award, a fair reward for his accurate goalkicking - he kicked seven from eight - but at times you could have thrown a blanket over the forwards and offered it to be of the big boys as they tucked into their work at the breakdown.
It also seems appropriate to mention Bridge. His second and third tries were gifts (and there was hint of a forward pass by the last transfer by Jack Goodhue), yet he had to run a nice angle and pump his legs like greased pistons to score his first.
Nice work from a player who is in his rookie season.
Stuff.co.nz