Charlie Gamble of the Waratahs (left) joins Hugh Sinclair of the Waratahs (right) as he celebrates scoring a try during the Super Rugby Pacific Round 2 match between the Crusaders and the New South Wales Waratahs at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Saturday, March 2, 2024. Photo: AAP / Photosport
The Crusaders have been stung 37-24 by the New South Wales Waratahs in a massive upset in Super Rugby Pacific in Melbourne.
The defending champions have lost their first two matches of the season for the first time since 2014.
In their first match against an Australian side this season the Rob Penney coached side were coming off a first round loss to the Chiefs.
But that didn't spark the Crusaders in the Super Round.
The Canterbury side were in front for just 12 minutes on the night, as the Waratahs ran in four tries in a performance led by 23-year-old first-five Tane Edmed.
Levi Aumua of the Crusaders (centre) during the Super Rugby Pacific Round 2 match between the Crusaders and the New South Wales Waratahs at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Saturday, March 2, 2024. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett/ Photosport Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
Defeat leaves the Crusaders with a daunting task to get their first win of the year, with a trip to Lautoka next weekend to face Fijian Drua away from home.
Coach Rob Penney said it's a big learning curve for his the new-look Crusaders side.
"There's still a bit of work to do there...they're talented boys and we've got to make sure that they're not too badly affected by today," Penney said.
"We started well and then we fell into a bit of a hole. We made a few errors and gave away a few penalties and we weren't able to build any momentum on the back of that.
"When we built pressure we'd release it and they capitalised on their turnovers and got the maximum out of it.
"The yellow cards were very frustrating given our inability to build momentum, it makes it very difficult."
With the loss the Crusaders are 10th on the ladder.
And Moana Pasifika beat Fijian Drua 39-36 in a thriller in Melbourne.