No.8 Christian Lio-Willie has scored a try double to help his champion Crusaders shrug off their horror Super Rugby Pacific season, with a comprehensive 39-0 victory over Melbourne Rebels at Christchurch.
Mired at the foot of the competition table, the home side well and truly broke the shackles that have bound them all season against a team sitting fourth and seeking their record fourth consecutive win.
Before he left the field with both ankles tightly strapped, Lio-Willie was part of a reconfigured loose forward combination, with Todd Blackadder at openside and Cullen Grace at blindside, that looked energised, while the return of captain Scott Barrett also provided a huge boost.
From the start, the Crusaders forwards asserted control over their counterparts, disintegrating early scrums with intent. From one scrum penalty, they launched a co-ordinated attack that finished with winger Sevu Reece putting Lio-Willie over for the opening try.
The home side continued to exploit their set-piece advantage with another penalty that saw winger Heremaia Murray chip to his own corner, where Grace was lurking to score.
Front-rowers Brodie McAlister, George Bower and Fletcher Newell all handled to put fullback Johnny McNicholl across in the corner, but he was dragged into touch, as he reached out to force.
The lineout that had hurt the Crusaders so often this season also showed great improvement, with Barrett constantly challenging opposition throw-ins.
Under pressure up front, the Rebels were obliged to replace their entire front row after just half an hour, bringing in Wallabies strongman Taniela Tupou to repair the damage.
Before halftime, they had a chance to close the deficit, but flanker Josh Kemeny lost the ball, as he dived at the tryline.
Despite their dominance, the Crusaders were only 10-0 up at the break, with first-five Rivez Reihana unable to convert either try from near touch.
The advantage swelled soon after the restart, when McNicholl fielded a kick inside his own half and broke to the Rebels 22, with Lio-Willie sliding inside the corner flag for his second try, but Reihana was again wayward from wide out.
A deep kick from Reece put the visitors under more pressure, with fullback Andrew Kellaway conceding an attacking lineout inside the 22, and Reihana got his eye in, with a penalty handy to the posts.
Feeling more confident with their set-piece, the Rebels strangely opted for a scrum from a free-kick in their own half, only to be monstered again by the Crusaders pack - their sixth scrum penalty of the encounter.
From an attacking lineout, replacement prop Owen Franks was driven over for a rare try with his first touch of the ball - his first Super Rugby try in 14 years. Reihana converted from the ground, after slipping over in his delivery.
From another lineout, replacement loose forward Corey Kellow was pulled down just short, but Reece was there to pick up and score, while McNicholl put the cherry on top of the performance, looming in support of Chay Fihaki, who burnt the defence from from deep inside his own half.
"Certainly pleased with how the boys turned up tonight," said Barrett. "There were some stern words this week and plenty of hurt over the past few weeks, but it was pleasing to see the boys roll up and put in a performance like that.
"The forward pack started to get into their work. At times this season, we've really struggled up front, but the scrum went really well and even the maul, we got into a bit of work there.
"The boys are growing and it's good to see we're learning."
The result catapults the Crusaders three spots up the ladder to ninth, although that could change over the weekend. More importantly, it sees them just one point outside the top eight, with quarter-final hopes now rekindled.
They have another opportunity to improve their standing, when they host Queensland Reds next Saturday.
Crusaders 39 (Lio-Willie 2, Grace, Franks, Reece, McNicholl tries; Reihana penalty & 3 conversions) Melbourne Rebels 0
