The reigning Super Rugby champion Crusaders led 24-0 at half-time and held on to beat the Hurricanes 38-22 in Christchurch to remain unbeaten after two rounds.

The Crusaders ran in four first-half tries against the under-strength Hurricanes who rallied slightly to outscore the hosts four tries to two in the second half and deny title favourites a bonus point.

Hurricanes coach John Plumtree made the decision to rest several of his leading players, including All Blacks five-eighth Beauden Barrett, and the Crusaders, also missing several All Blacks, drew on their greater depth to outplay the Hurricanes in all phases in the opening 40 minutes.

The absence of the All Blacks, which has been a feature of the first two rounds of the tournament in New Zealand, meant a match which is usually one of the marquee contests of the season was played in a half-empty AMI Stadium on Saturday.

The Crusaders took advantage of the Hurricanes’ weakness at set pieces and disorganisation in defence to score first-half tries through five-eighth Richie Mo’unga – twice – flanker Jordan Taufua and lock Scott Barrett.

The fourth try, just before half-time, resulted from a massive scrum shove by the Crusaders which showed how powerless the Hurricanes were against the nine-time champions, who extended their winning streak to a recored 17 games.

The match lost much of its structure after half-time as both teams ran their benches.