 Stirred by memories of last season's draw and the rising reputation of the Western Force, the Crusaders sent the Force the same way as many reputable sides who travel to Jade Stadium full of hope by thrashing them 53-0.
The trend for the evening was set by No.8 Mose Tuiali'i, whose thundering runs gave the Crusaders a dominance of the advantage line which was rarely challenged over 80 minutes.
Unleashing powerful runs off the back of scrums and around rucks and mauls, Tuiali'i appeared unstoppable.
And if the big No.8 was in the thick of the action, lock Ross Filipo was not too far behind, showing impressive handling and support skills and his reward was three tries. Crusaders 53
Tries: Filipo 3, Read 2, Gear, Tuiali'i, McCaw
Conversions: Carter 5
Penalties: Carter
Force 0
HT: 22-0 The Queensland Reds have been overrun by an incessant Sharks outfit who scored nine tries to the Reds' one on the way to a classy 59-16 victory at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
The excellent AJ Venter and JP Pietersen punished Queensland mistakes to give the Sharks the early lead after home captain John Roe had got the Reds on the board with a powerful run.
But the killer blow for the bottom-placed hosts was two Sharks tries two minutes either side of half-time when Jacques Botes and Pietersen again crossed in the face of some woeful Reds defending.
With Queensland chasing shadows, Brad Barritt scored the try of the evening when he finished a sweeping move before tries to Waylon Murray ,Bismarck du Plessis, Keegan Daniel and a second to Venter sent the Reds tumbling to their eighth straight loss of the season. Sharks 59
Tries: Pietersen 2, Venter 2, Botes, Barritt, Murray, Du Plessis, Daniel
Conversions: Pienaar 4, Steyn 3
Penalties: Pienaar
Reds 16
Tries: Roe
Conversions: Schifcofske
Penalties: Schifcofske 3 Sportal
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