Cape Town - The Crusaders outclassed the Stormers in their Super Rugby encounter in Christchurch on Saturday.
The defending champions won 45-28, having led 31-7 at half-time.
The Crusaders ran in seven tries and were leading 26-0 inside the first quarter, before the Cape side found some rhythm.
The Crusaders’ 31-7 half-time lead was reduced to 10 points (31-21) early in the second half but the hosts quickly shot down any hopes the visitors may have harboured of a comeback.
The Stormers can take heart from the fact that they claimed a bonus-point courtesy of scoring four tries.
They will however be worried about the ease at which they conceded points as well as an injury to Springbok lock Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Du Toit left the field concussed at half-time and it appeared as though he also injured his neck.
In next weekend's action, the Stormers take on the Highlanders in Dunedin (Friday, March 9 - 08:35 SA time), while the Crusaders travel to Wellington to face the Hurricanes (Saturday, March 10 - 08:35 SA time).
Scorers:
Crusaders
Tries: George Bridge, Codie Taylor, Billy Harmon, Bryn Hall, George Bridge, Seta Tamanivalu, Richie Mo'unga
Conversions: Mo'unga (5)
Stormers
Tries: JC Janse van Rensburg, Wilco Louw, JD Schickerling, Steven Kitshoff
Conversions: SP Marais (3), George Whitehead
Teams:
Crusaders
15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Billy Harmon, 6 Peter Samu, 5 Sam Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Substitutes: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 Chris King, 18 Oliver Jager, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Manasa Mataele
Stormers
15 SP Marais, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Dillyn Leyds, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 JC Janse van Resnburg
Substitutes: 16 Dean Muir, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Kobus van Dyk, 22 Justin Phillips, 23 George Whitehead
