Three unanswered tries in the second half has spared the Crusaders' blushes in a hard-fought 38-21 Super Rugby Pacific win over Moana Pasifika at Christchurch.
The defending champions trailed 21-17 at halftime, after an uncharacteristic first half which included ill-discipline and unforced errors.
It wasn't helped by a fired up opposition, with Moana Pasifika playing much better than their winless record this season suggests.
The Crusaders were dealt an early blow, losing centre Leicester Fainga'anuku before the kickoff, which saw Dallas McLeod called straight into the run-on side.
Crusaders centurion Richie Mo'unga opened the scoring with a penalty goal, before a sensational run sent hooker Codie Taylor over for the first try.
Mo'unga gathered the short 22m dropout, before dancing his way around several defenders and linking up with his captain on the inside.
Moana Pasifika centre Levi Aumua showed why he was called up to the All Blacks XV last year with several powerful surges up the middle.
After a steady scrum, Aumua received the ball in a congested midfield, but cut back inside to beat four defenders on his way to the tryline.
His combination with winger Timoci Tavatavanawai proved a handful for the Crusaders defence, which saw loose forward Corey Kellow shown a yellow card for cynical play.
Aumua had a double just moments later, after Tavatavanawai committed the Crusaders midfield, freeing up his centre for the go-ahead score.
The Crusaders welcomed back Kellow's arrival with a lineout just five metres out, and they made no mistake, as Taylor dived over from the maul for his second.
But it was Moana Pasifika that had the last say of an action-packed first half, with Tavatavanawai grabbing a well-deserved five-pointer after an impressive passage of play.
The second half saw Moana Pasifika down to 14 players, with lock Sam Slade shown a yellow card after preventing a Crusaders attack.
Just as it looked as if the visitors would survive the onslaught, first-five Lincoln McClutchie's kick wouldn't find touch and the Crusaders made them pay.
Mo'unga's kick across field bounced kindly for winger Macca Springer, and he found a surging Dom Gardiner in support to score the try.
McClutchie had an opportunity to draw the scores level with a penalty goal, but his kick was away, before the Crusaders were in again.
Fergus Burke capped off a strong game at fullback with a superb catch under heavy pressure, before beautiful link up play saw McLeod go in for the try.
McLeod would again be involved in his team's final score, after a brilliant offload by replacement Melani Nanai.
Nanai committed several defenders, before releasing McLeod, who found halfback Willi Heinz in support on the inside to score right before the fulltime siren.
Crusaders 38 (Taylor 2, Gardiner, McLeod, Heinz tries; Mo'unga 5 con, 1 pen)
Moana Pasifika 21 (Aumua 2, Tavatavanawai tries; McClutchie 3 con)
