Down 29-0 in the first half, the Crusaders have shown their champion qualities, rallying to a dramatic comeback victory over the Waratahs at Christchurch.
Over a disastrous opening half hour, the Super Rugby titleholders could not put a foot right and their opponents seemed set to end Australia's 38-game losing streak against NZ teams in this competition.
The visitors were first on the scoreboard, capitalising on a turnover to send winger Cam Clark across for a try out wide, unconverted by Bernard Foley.
As it happened: Super Rugby - Crusaders vs Waratahs
But that was just a taste of what was to come from the Sydneysiders, who would pile on another 24 unanswered points - including three more tries - at better than a point a minute.
Winger Taqele Naiyaravoro intercepted a long pass to run in unopposed, Israel Folau showed his class after taking a clearing kick in his own half and then provided the brilliance again for centre Curtis Rona to score.
Suddenly, that winning streak seemed gone, with the defending champions looming as unlikely culprits in this capitulation.
But the passes that had dropped over the first 30 minutes began to stick and the Crusaders mounted a furious comeback heading into the break.
Prop Joe Moody broke the duck, when he loomed inside Richie Mounga to score in the 35th minute. Three minutes later, the Crusaders won an attacking lineout and hooker Codie Taylor crossed at the back of a rolling maul.
They made further headway after the half-time siren, when Waratahs halfback Nick Phipps was sin-binned and from an attacking scrum, Mounga flung a long pass wide for Seta Tamanivalu to power over in the corner.
The Crusaders started the second half 29-19 in arrears and a man up on their opponents, but were unable to score again before Phiipps returned.
When Naiyaravoro was also sent to the bin, the home team continued to mount pressure, with replacement wing Braydon Ennor scoring in the left corner to close within a try.
Finally, the Crusaders forwards snatched the advantage with 12 minutes left, dominating their counterparts on the tryline and eventually earning a penalty try from a collapsed scrum.
Foley had a couple of opportunities to guide his team home - he missed a midfield penalty that could have stretched their advantage and choked on a possible winner from similar position with a few minutes remaining.
The result sees the Crusaders return to the top of the NZ conference and overall standings. They travel north to face the Blues at Eden Park next Saturday.
After their devastating loss to the Blues last week, the Waratahs had their hearts broken again and there's not let up for them - they host the Highlanders, also next Saturday.
Crusaders 31 (Ennor, Moody, Taylor, Tamanivalu tries; penalty try; Mounga 2 conversions) Waratahs 29 (Rona, Folau, Naiyaravoro, Clark tries; Foley penalty & 3 conversions)
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