Halai's double double helps Blues crush Crusaders

The Auckland Blues took apart the Canterbury Crusaders in a thumping 34-15 Super Rugby win yesterday, outscoring their illustrious New Zealand rivals by five tries to none at Eden Park.

Steven Lusatia touched down before wing Frank Halai scored two tries for the second time in two matches to put the home side 20-6 ahead against the seven-time champions.

Dan Carter hauled the Crusaders to within five points at the start of the second half with his fifth penalty but the Blues, who finished bottom of the New Zealand standings last year, stood firm.

Flanker Luke Braid crossed to give the home side a bonus point and wing George Moapa scorched past four Canterbury defenders with six minutes left to touchdown and put the gloss on the impressive performance.

The Crusaders were extremely rusty after a first-round bye, uncertain under the high ball and - with New Zealand captain Richie McCaw on a six-month sabbatical - vulnerable at the breakdown.

It was the Blues' second bonus point win following a first-round victory in Wellington last week and firmly places John Koran's side among the contenders for a title they have not won wince 2003.

"We created opportunities for ourselves out wide," Blues scrumhalf Pire Weep said. "But we've got to be a little bit tighter around our defence."

Weep was erratic with his kicking but he laid on Lusatia's opening try before Haley scored twice in the right-hand corner.

His first try came after the Blues recycled the ball near the left corner flag and spread it quickly across the line, while his second was down to quick thinking from fly half Chris Nooks, who chipped the ball over the top to him.

Carter dragged the Crusaders to within eight points at the interval and trimmed the deficit further at the start of the second period, but Braid picked up and went over from a yard from an opening that came from another spilled high ball by the visitors.

And moments after Israel Dig was denied a score that would have given Carter a shot at making the score 27-22 with eight minutes left, Moapa raced away to send the home fans wild.

In Sydney, the New South Wales Waratahs mounted a stirring second-half comeback to end their nine-game Super Rugby losing streak with a 31-26 win over the Melbourne Rebels.

The Rebels had looked on course for a first win over their fellow Australians when Ged Robinson's try helped them to take a half-time lead in Sydney.

However, Bernard Foley, Michael Hooper and Paddy Ryan scored second-half tries to give the Waratahs their first Super Rugby win since a 30-21 victory over the same opponents in April last year.

Kurtley Beale touched down in the final minute to earn the Rebels a losing bonus point.

In Brisbane, the Queensland Reds beat the Wellington Hurricanes 18-12, after leading 11-9 at half-time.