The Crusaders showed they remain a force to be reckoned with as they began life without Robbie Deans and Dan Carter by beating the Chiefs 19-13 on Saturday.
Despite the closeness of the score, the Crusaders were never behind in their opening round Super 14 match, and there was a familiar pattern to their play.
The standard-bearers of New Zealand rugby soaked up the best a fired up Chiefs could throw at them in the second half and then came back to put the result beyond doubt with a try in the 80th minute.
The Chiefs, with a reputation for being slow starters and under-achievers, have nevertheless been the Crusaders' bogey team in recent years, winning their last two matches.
And after turning 5-14 down at half-time and narrowing the gap to 13-14 with 20 minutes remaining they had reason to feel they could make it three in a row.
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Crusaders still a force and unruffled by change
Crusaders still a force and unruffled by change
