Chiefs crush Crusaders to move top of Super Rugby table

The Chiefs moved top of the Super Rugby table after a dominant 26-9 win over the Crusaders in Christchurch.

The visitors ran in three unanswered tries to move one point ahead of the Hurricanes, who face the Waratahs on Saturday.

While the Chiefs looked refreshed coming off a bye the Crusaders were listless, despite fielding a starting line-up boasting 10 Test players.

They could find no penetration attacking with ball in hand and frequently miskicked to slump to their second defeat to the Chiefs this season.

The Crusaders opened strongly when Tim Nanai-Williams crossed in the fourth minute, only for his effort to be disallowed due to obstruction in the lead up.

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A yellow card for flanker Sam Cane then left the Chiefs vulnerable but the Crusaders failed to capitalise as the sides exchanged penalities.

Chiefs No 8 Michael Leitch scored the first try on 23 minutes when he seized the ball and barged over the line following a Richie McCaw knock on.

But the visitors were also dealt a blow when fly-half Aaron Cruden limped off with a knee injury, a situation that will be closely monitored by All Blacks coaching staff.

Andrew Horrell came on as a replacement to kick the conversion and extend the lead to 13-3.

The Crusaders narrowed the gap with another penalty but they gifted the Chiefs a second try on the stroke of half-time when Andy Ellis lost the ball forward.

Leitch pounced on it and passed to winger James Lowe, who took off for a 70-metre breakaway try to make it 18-6 at the break.

The Crusaders could manage only a solitary penalty in the second half, with all the pressure coming from the Chiefs.

Liam Squire put the result beyond doubt with 10 minutes to go after Nanai-Williams sliced through the fumbling Crusaders defence to set him up.