They took too long to put the Blues away. They made too many mistakes in the first half and drifted into the game as if they always knew it was going to happen for them and there was no need to fast-track the business of winning.
Which is perhaps not paying the Blues enough respect. There's no point in looking at the score and saying it was a travesty of performance, that things are truly awful at the Blues.
Losing by 30-odd points wasn't so bad given the team they had on the field. They were a bunch of kids and, for a bunch of kids, the Blues played pretty well. They didn't appear overawed or suffer from stage fright. That didn't mean they opened up and played flowing rugby by any means, but they were happy enough to play their natural game and see what happened.
Defensively they held their shape well and were brave. When they had to scramble - which was often enough - they covered the ground and got off the line fast. They even scored a try with five minutes to go which suggests they have heart, a bit of pride and, if nothing else, are quite well conditioned.
Was it enough to signal a bright future? It was enough to say the Blues have a group of young players with potential. They have a group who could be shaped and developed into a half-decent playing unit if they are exposed to the right coaching and role modelling from the vast contingent of senior players currently injured but who will return next season.
The front row was perhaps the biggest surprise as they held on and showed plenty of courage to avoid being horribly crushed until the final quarter.
When Ofa Tu'ungafasi was forced off after 20 minutes with concussion, there was a bit of nervousness as to how Sione Mafileo would fare.
It seemed a bit cruel to send him out against Wyatt Crockett and Owen Franks but the Blues had no choice. Mafileo, whose first task was a scrum, was buckled quite nastily in that first exchange.
But he picked himself up and dug in and didn't get done again until 15 minutes to go when the Blues conceded a penalty try.
Probably, though, on reflection, the big winner on the night was the All Black coaches. They will be feeling that with the Hurricanes, Chiefs and Highlanders all likely to have some involvement in the playoffs, they are going to be stitching a test team together to play Samoa from the Blues and Crusaders.
Well, more the Crusaders than Blues so, in that respect, they will have been quite happy to see Richie McCaw go up another level again and Dan Carter bang over goals from everywhere.
Sam Whitelock managed a sprightly 30 minutes, too, and there will be a lot less anxiety about how many players are ready for Apia.
Blues 11 (B. Lam tries; I. West 2 pens)
Crusaders 34 (N. Nadolo, L. Romano, Penalty, M. Todd tries; D. Carter 2 pens, 4 cons).
Halftime: 6-17.
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