Dean Wedlake in Christchurch
The Crusaders overcame water-logged conditions to open their season in style with a 34-3 bonus-point win over the Brumbies at AMI Stadium on Friday night.
The opening match of the Super 14 season was the first opportunity to witness the Experimental Law Variations (ELV's) in action and it was the Crusaders who showed superior fitness late in the game, scoring three times in the second half.
Rather than playing an expansive game, both sides kept it tight early on and the experience and strength of the Crusaders pack overwhelmed the Brumbies on most occasions.
No.8 Mose Tuiali'i was at the heart of the forward effort and was rewarded with the night's first two tries, while lock Ali Williams was also outstanding on his Crusaders debut following his highly-publicised off-season move from the Blues.
Both backlines were kept relatively quiet but Crusaders fullback Leon MacDonald had a blinder in what was his 100th match for his franchise. His positional play was typically perfect and it was his break that laid on Tuiali'i's opener and first-five eighth Dan Carter's that provided the bonus point in the final minute.
Old habits died hard in the first 20 minutes as both sides struggled with the adjustment to the new laws and also the greasy field.
Carter opened the season's scoring when he slotted a penalty goal in the 14th minute, but Brumbies fullback Julian Huxley hit back with his own four minutes later.
After half an hour played mainly between the two 22m lines, Tuiali'i dotted down for 2008's first try in the 33rd minute and owed it to scintillating lead-up work from MacDonald.
Receiving the ball from wing Scott Hamilton, a perfectly-balance MacDonald breezed through two defenders, fed Williams which then led to flanker Richie McCaw sending Tuiali'i over in the right hand corner. Carter nailed the conversion to earn a 10-3 halftime advantage.
It was all the Crusaders in the second half and Tuiali'i touched down again in the 50th minute. He was fed by impressive debutant halfback Kahn Fotuali'i and bulldozed through three defenders to score in a show of brute strength.
The Brumbies threw everything at the red-and-black defence in hope of narrowing the 17-3 deficit, but another Carter penalty extended it past two converted tries then lock Brad Thorn capped his return to rugby union in style.
The former Broncos rugby league forward did a fine impression of his two-try team-mate in bouncing off tackles to score his side's third five-pointer and put the result beyond doubt.
A fourth-try bonus point finally came in the 79th minute as MacDonald broke and threw a pinpoint pass for Carter to streak down the right flank and dot down near the posts to cap an encouraging first competition outing.
Conversely, with the leadership and skills of the likes of George Gregan and Stephen Larkham now gone and Stirling Mortlock on the injured list, the Brumbies are a shadow of the dominant ACT sides of the early 2000's.
And with Wallabies winger Adam Ashley-Cooper going down with what looked to be a serious ankle injury in the first half, things may only get worse before they get better.
Crusaders 34
Tries: Tuiali'i (2), Thorn, Carter
Cons: Carter (4)
Pens: Carter (2)
Brumbies 3
Pens: Huxley
HT: 10-3