Even without most of their All Blacks stars, a depleted Crusaders line-up has proved way too strong for Super Rugby Pacific stragglers Moana Pasifika in a 41-7 romp at Go Media Stadium (Mt Smart).
All Blacks star Will Jordan scored his try of the season, after returning from injury, while captain Scott Barrett crossed for a five-pointer, as the six-time defending champions rested many of their frontline performers, but still ran in six tries for a bonus-point victory.
The result temporarily propels the southerners past ACT Brumbies into second on the competition table, still four points behind the Chiefs, with a weekend of games still to come.
Despite their rivals' winless run through this year's campaign, the Crusaders would have been wary that their last mandated rest saw them toppled by Fijian Drua at Lautoka.
Moana Pasifika came closest to breaking their duck two weeks ago, when they lost in the final minute to last year's beaten finalists, the Blues, but once flanker Christian Lio-Willie opened the scoring with a try in the 10th minute, the result was never in doubt.
Lio-Willie was named to the bench, but an injury to Sione Havili Talituli saw him promoted to the starting line-up, where he made an early impact.
Winger Macca Springer, Jordan and halfback Noah Hotham all scored tries, and flanker Corey Kellow had a try disallowed for a knockon in the build-up, as the Crusaders ran up a 29-0 halftime advantage.
Moana Pasifika enjoyed few opportunities before the break and conceded another try to hooker Brodie McAlister afterwards, but finally cracked the scoreboard, when winger Lima Fainga'anuku capitalised on a period of sustained pressure.
Surprisingly, Barrett played all but a handful of minutes, putting the cherry on top of his team's performance, when he took a short pass from fellow second-rower Zach Gallagher to score.
"Pleased with this group," said Barrett. "There's quite a few young boys here and they rolled their sleeves up tonight.
"When you have a few guys who have been holding hit-shields for a lot of the season, we saw they were hungry and put their hands up."
The Crusaders will host NSW Waratahs next Saturday, before completing their season against the Hurricanes.
Crusaders 41 (Lio-Willie, Springer, Jordan, Hotham, McAlister & Barrett tries; Burke 4 conversions & penalty) Moana Pasifika 7 (Fainga'anuku try; Lealiifano conversion)
