Crusaders flying on confidence

Crusaders 33 Waratahs 27

The Crusaders have arrived in South Africa for the toughest part of their Super 12 season but brimming with confidence after vanquishing competition leaders the Waratahs.

The Crusaders play the Bulls and the Stormers over the next fortnight before returning home to play the Cats.

"We've got a tough three weeks, so we really targeted this game," halfback Justin Marshall said.

"To have dropped this one and then have to go over there with more pressure on our backs wouldn't have been the greatest way to get on the plane.

"Now we are going there with confidence."

It was a close game until the last 25 minutes when the Crusaders overcame an eight-point deficit and then pulled away from the Waratahs, before opposing star winger Lote Tuqiri scored a brilliant converted try in the final minute to give them a bonus point.

The game was a litmus test for the home side, who have customarily started their Super 12 seasons with a bang and finished with a whimper.

The Crusaders trailed 12-13 at halftime, mainly due to a 62m try from an interception by effervescent Waratahs fullback Peter Hewat, but in the last 25 minutes they piled on 21 points before Tuqiri's late try.

"There were a few uncharacteristic errors, a few that they forced us to make, but in the second half we played the game at the right end, and anything they had to do they had to do from the deep," Marshall said. "We did grind them and we were able to capitalise on that in the finish."

The Crusaders took the field without one of their best players this season, second five-eighths Aaron Mauger, who fell victim to a stomach bug on Friday.

But they showed their depth, with Andrew Mehrtens coming into the side at first five-eighths and Daniel Carter shifting out a place.

Mehrtens put on a vintage performance, marshalling the backline attacks and kicking well when required.

He scored a late try, beating the defence in a sprint to a ball.

The speed he showed didn't escape his halfback's notice.

"Didn't he [sprint], the old fella," said Marshall who is three months younger than the 31-year-old Mehrtens.

"I mentioned that to him on the way back to halfway. It was good to see."

Coach Robbie Deans was pleased with how his team stuck to their "selections and opportunities" in the face of a determined Waratahs unit.

"The Waratahs all year have created space and put people into space and have done it with ease. But our defensive effort was very good and it wasn't until the death they were able to do that."

The Crusaders will be without hooker Corey Flynn who injured a rib in the second half.

Flynn is back in Christchurch and will be out for at least two weeks.

Ti'i Paulo has joined the team as back-up to Flynn's replacement Tone Kopelani.

Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie said the Crusaders were too good.

"It was a little bit of inexperience against their experience," McKenzie said.

He will welcome back two key players for the next round against the Hurricanes when lock Justin Harrison returns from suspension and Mat Rogers slots into the backline after injury.

- NZPA