Four second-half tries in six minutes set the Crusaders up for a storming 57-14 win over the Cheetahs on Saturday in Christchurch.
It wasn't the 80-minute performance they were looking for, but there was plenty of encouragement for coach Todd Blackadder while contemplating a tough two-match South African tour to take on the Bulls and Sharks.
Both teams were hit with yellow cards, Crusaders winger Kieron Fonotia binned after seven minutes for taking out Cheetahs fullback Willie le Roux in the air.
But the 14-strong Crusaders kept the Cheetahs scoreless for the next 10 minutes, although breakout tries to centres Francois Venter and Johann Sadie gave the visitors a 14-10 lead at halftime.
Blindside flanker Jordan Taufua, who scored a brace after powering over late in the second half as well, scored after 20 minutes to keep the Crusaders in touch at the break.
The Crusaders dominated the set piece, their scrum and lineout functioning with brutal efficiency to keep the Cheetahs under constant pressure.
They cracked seven minutes into the second half, shortly after le Roux was sinbinned for a high tackle which took down Nemani Nadolo as the Fijian winger stormed to the line.
A penalty try was followed in rapid succession by tries to Israel Dagg, Dan Carter and Nadolo as the Crusaders powered away to a 38-10 lead as the hour mark approached.
The Cheetahs were again hit hard when tighthead prop Coenie Oosthuizen was yellow-carded in the 68th minute for angling in at scrum time.
Taufua picked up his second try, as did Carter, with 20-year-old utility back David Havili coming off the bench to add to the eight-try tally.
Carter was in impeccable form driving the Crusaders' backline, adding to his two tries with seven conversions and a penalty to total 27 points for the game.
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