For the first time since 2014, defending Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders have lost their first two matches of the season going down 37-24 to the Waratahs.
If that result is anything to go by, it's a positive omen for the Waratahs who in 2014 won the final against the Crusaders in Sydney.
After an epic charge-down try by Hugh Sinclair, the Waratahs never relinquished their lead and were almost infallible from there on.
The Crusaders, meanwhile, were messy and lacked cohesion with the absence of star players like Richie Mo'unga and Sam Whitelock evident at lineout time and at the breakdown.
Crusaders centre David Havili says it was frustrating, and they wanted to work on that from last week as next week is another battle for them.
It marked just the fourth win for the Waratahs over the Crusaders since their Super Rugby final triumph in 2014.
Former Crusader and commentator Sonny Bill Williams says he found their lineout struggled quite a bit and it is simply down to the loss of Whitelock and Mo’unga.
To which Havili replied, he thinks they would put it down to those guys, they are world-class.
Havili says they have still got world-class players in their line-out with Scott Barrett.
The Crusaders centre says everyone needs to be on the same page and making sure when they get under pressure, they know what to go to.
The Crusaders were also hurt by the absence of star playmaker Will Jordan, who recently underwent surgery on his shoulder.
They face the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua in round three next week in Lautoka.
In the other game played last night, the Drua edged Moana Pasifika 39-36.
In games coming up this afternoon, the Chiefs play the Brumbies at 3pm while the Hurricanes face the Reds at 5.30pm.
Source: nine.com
