Hurricanes 30
Crusaders 24
That's more like it. When the best two New Zealand sides resumed combat after their enthralling battle in last year's play-offs, the standard of rugby rose a notch as well.
There was more sting to the rugby, more starch in the tackles, more snap at the breakdowns and a sharper
focus on attack and defence when the Hurricanes came to Christchurch looking for revenge of their defeat in last season's semifinal.
Eventually the visitors got their revenge but not without huge anxiety as they had to play the last few minutes without sinbinned skipper Rodney So'oialo while the Crusaders increased the intensity in the final quarter.
The Hurricanes began solidly with Piri Weepu playing at five-eighths and banging over two early penalties as referee Stu Dickinson got into the hosts.
In the 10th minute he warned Crusaders skipper Richie McCaw that the next offender would go to the sinbin .
When he delivered on his threat 20 minutes later, it was McCaw who went to the cooler after an innocuous ruck infringement.
As the Crusaders worried how they could get back into the game, wing Jared Payne delivered the answers. Twice he steamed through the Hurricanes in counter-attacking slices and from the second, found enough support for centre Casey Laulala to reach across the paint for a superb team try.
That full-bore flurry of teamwork, signalled the size of the task for the visitors if they were going to tip up the defending champions.
The Hurricanes responded. Conrad Smith put wing Zac Guildford through for a try confirmed by the video referee.
It seemed the Hurricanes would make a further mark while McCaw was off, but the Crusaders' spirit and defence could not be broken. .
They held and as if to celebrate the skipper's return, swept downfield in an imperious move which allowed Brad Thorn to collect the try. Once again the game was in the balance.
But the Hurricanes slowly began to profit from their weight of possession and some inaccuracy from the Crusaders.
As they scooted away in one foray a careless pass was retrieved by Alby Mathewson who broke one lunging tackle and then outsprinted several others for a converted try.
It was a serious reverse, compounded soon after when Ma'a Nonu set his side away with a superb wide pass to fellow All Black Hosea Gear.
Scrambling defence from the Crusaders plugged several holes, but as play continued and swung wide again an inside pass to Nonu gave the muscular midfielder an uninterrupted path to the line.
Teams of less calibre would have wilted at that 30-12 scoreline but the Crusaders lifted, attacking from all parts of the park as they tested the Hurricanes nerves.
Hurricanes 30 Z Guildford, A Mathewson, M Nonu tries P Weepu 3 pen, 3 con
Crusaders 24 (C Laulala, B Thorn, J Payne, T Waldrom, tries; C Slade con, S Brett con
Halftime 16-7
