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The Crusaders weren't at their clinical best but it was still good enough for a 54-28 blowout Super Rugby Trans-Tasman defeat of the winless NSW Waratahs.
The Crusaders have again piled on the points in a 54-28 defeat of the NSW Waratahs, but not without a scare against the winless Super Rugby Trans-Tasman strugglers.
It was a record-extending 11th-straight loss for the Waratahs this season, but the manner of victory proved far tougher for New Zealand's domestic champions than expected.
Up 26-9 at the break, the visitors had their composure tested in Wollongong when Waratahs fullback Jack Maddocks scored off a scrum and then in-form centre Izaia Perese steamrolled two defenders for another quick try.
It was suddenly a 10-point game in a contest the Waratahs started as $26 long-shots to win, after the Crusaders had humbled the Super Rugby AU champion Reds 63-28 last weekend.
But Perese then pushed a pass that found touch and the Crusaders, who had been uncharacteristically sloppy in the first-half, took their chance.
Leicester Fainga'anuku tumbled over for a 40-23 lead and, even with Oli Jager in the sin bin for obstructing Will Harrison, Bryn Hall also crossed.
Will Jordan then roped in a cross-field bomb and skipped through two tackles to ensure another half-century for the Christchurch outfit.
Alex Newsome ensured the Waratahs scored the game's final points, crossing in the right corner after both David Havili and Nathan Vella were yellow-carded for professional fouls.
Barrett hinted they had been chasing a big win to boost their percentage as they hunt a top-two finish needed to play in the one-off Trans-Tasman final.
"It got a little bit loose at times trying to chase points and tries in this competition," he told Stan Sport post-game.
"They've got plenty of attacking flair and put a wee bit of points on us, which is a little disappointing."
Earlier No.10 Richie Mo'unga was patient but clinical as he set up captain Scott Barrett to start the second half.
The Waratahs had kicked two penalties to hold the Crusaders to 12-6 after 29 minutes, only to concede three tries before halftime.
Jack Whetton had been sin-binned for repeat foul play around the ruck, the Crusaders making the most of the numerical advantage with a long-range team try that took them down the left wing to be finished by Codie Taylor.
Perese did his Wallabies Test chances no harm with a powerful showing in the midfield, while captain Jake Gordon was again a threat at halfback despite the Crusaders' dominance.
"It was a great finish, but throughout the year we've looked good in patches and had trouble replicating it for 80 minutes," Gordon said.
"We play an exciting game of rugby but put ourselves in a position where if we get turned over we can be exposed and our transition defence needs to improve."
Prop Harry Johnson-Holmes copped what appeared to be a stray elbow to the head and was carefully taken from the field late in the second half.
