The Crusaders recorded an expectedly comfortable 57-24 bonus-point victory over the Southern Kings at AMI Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday, but only after South Africa's Super Rugby whipping boys had scored the opening 10 points of the game to jangle home nerves.
Louis Fouche opened the scoring with a seventh-minute penalty goal, and the fly-half converted a try by winger Luzuko Vulindlu just four minutes later, but the hosts were in front inside seven minutes through converted tries by wingers Johnny McNicholl and Nemani Nadolo.
As if to discipline the Kings for their cheek and temerity in pinching an early double-figure lead, the Crusaders asserted themselves with two more tries, from Ben Funnell and Nadolo, to claim a 19-point margin at half-time.
The Crusaders continued the rampage after the break, with Richie Mo'unga and Mitchell Drummond each scoring a converted try, but the floodgates that had cracked ajar did not open fully even as the hosts, who were punishing on the counter-attack, repeatedly punched through the Kings' fragile midfield defence.
Kings replacement hooker Edgard Marutlulle and star back-rower Chris Cloete posted converted tries either side of a converted score by the Crusaders' replacement winger Jone Macilai-Tori, who touched down to ice a wonderful breakout founded on strong defence.
Nadolo was involved in the final score of the game, making a damaging break through three defenders from a tap penalty before quick ruck work and hands from the forwards put replacement blindside Peter Samu over three minutes before the siren.