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Captain Sam Talakai admitted the Rebels ”got our pants pulled down” by a “hurting” Crusaders team on Friday night.
The defending champion Crusaders blanked the Rebels 39-0 in Christchurch to lift themselves up to ninth on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder.
The Crusaders had entered the round 10 match in wooden spoon position while the Rebels were sitting fourth.
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“They’re hurting and they came out and fought for everything and it showed up front,” Talakai said.
“They got on top and they stayed on top. There are some quick fixes but at the end of the day we’ve probably got to look in the mirror. We probably looked too far ahead. We came here and we got our pants pulled down.”
The Crusaders win was only the second in nine games but brightened their chances of reaching the quarter-finals with five matches remaining.
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The Crusaders fielded the biggest pack they could find and crushed the Rebels scrum, winning penalties and territory through the first 30 minutes.
All Blacks props Fletcher Newell and George Bower dominated while the Rebels were forced to swap their entire front row – including Talakai – in the 31st minute.
The Crusaders also freely poached the Rebels lineout ball, helped by the return from injury of All Blacks lock Scott Barrett.
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But the handling errors that have plagued them all season continued.
Though they had 88 per cent of territory in the first half and controlled set pieces, they managed only two unconverted tries and led 10-0 at halftime.
There were four more tries in the second half.
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“I’m certainly pleased with the way the boys turned up tonight,” Crusaders captain Barrett said.
“There were some stern words this week and plenty of hurt over the last few weeks. But it was pleasing to see the boys roll up and put a big performance in like that.”
No.8 Christian Lio-Willie, who often has made his appearances from the bench this season, started and scored a try in each half for the Crusaders.
His first came in the 11th minute after a long buildup and from a flicked pass from winger Sevu Reece.
Flanker Cullen Grace scored in the 17th minute from a cross kick by winger Heremaia Murray.
But the Crusaders weren’t precise enough in their attack play to fully drive home their advantage before halftime.
Lio-Willie scored again in the 44th minute at the end of a movement which twice featured former Wales international Johnny McNicholl.
And prop Owen Franks touched down from a lineout drive in the 63rd minute for his first Super Rugby try since 2010.
The Crusaders then were able to chance their arm more and their confidence began to ebb back.
Reece scored in the 77th minute, then McNicholl scored after a line break and angled run by Chay Fihaki.
The Crusaders still have a tough run in to the playoffs but with Friday’s win and players returning from injury, the look a better prospect.
“I think the forward pack’s starting to get into their work. The scrum was good tonight. The boys are growing and we’re learning,” Barrett said.
The Waratahs were also dealt a reality check on Friday night in a 38-22 loss to the Chiefs in Sydney.
It was 12-12 at halftime.
The Chiefs improved to third on the ladder while the Waratahs are now 10th.
“It was really fast and physical from the start,” NSW centre Lalakai Foketi said.
“We knew that they were going to come out swinging, so we wanted to match that. I thought our first 30 minutes was great. We retained the ball and played running rugby, but we couldn’t maintain it. We gave them the ball too easily and they executed really well, especially off set piece.
“We knew what was coming but we still couldn’t stop it. It was really frustrating.”
“The first 40 was a really good battle,” added captain Jake Gordon.
“I thought we controlled field position and were getting dominance through our maul. We weren’t as consistent in the second half and turned the pill over far too easily. We allowed their backs to get quality ball and they were too good.
“It’s a balance between giving them possession and defending well and we probably got the balance wrong in the second half.”
