Crusaders coach Scott Robertson ruefully declared “Israel Folau should be working for NASA” after the superstar’s stunning aerial display brought the record-setting Super Rugby champions crashing back to earth.

Folau became Super Rugby’s all-time joint record try scorer as the NSW Waratahs snapped the Crusaders’ record 19-match winning streak with a stirring 20-12 victory at the SCG on Saturday night.

The code-hopping freak joined former All Black Doug Howlett on 59 tries when he sealed NSW’s win six minutes from fulltime by leaping high to force Crusaders replacement Will Jordan to spill a Bernard Foley bomb on his own line.

Earlier, Folau soared into another stratosphere to reel in another Foley high kick before sending Waratahs winger Cam Clark sprinting over in the left corner.

“He’s pretty good in the air,” Robertson said in awe after the Waratahs cast sentiment aside to shatter the Crusaders’ hopes winning a 20th straight match just eight days after their home city of Christchurch was rocked by the shocking terror attacks.

“It’s a tough week but, look, we’re Crusaders; we don’t make excuses,” Robertson said.

“We were really desperate to play well and represent our people and show how much we care.

“And you could see how hard we worked, but I think we dropped enough ball for the whole season.”

The Crusaders hadn’t lost for more than a year, since a 25-17 round-five defeat to the Highlanders last season in Dunedin.

But after an unconvincing two-from-four start to their campaign, the Waratahs had a new game plan to use Folau’s aerial skills more in a bid to break down the best defensive team in the competition.

The tactics worked a treat, leaving coach Daryl Gibson and captain Michael Hooper with renewed belief that the Tahs could mount another title challenge in 2019.

“It gives our team a lot of confidence to know we can compete with the best,” Gibson said.

In a poignant start to the night, the Waratahs and Crusaders entered the playing arena side by side before huddling together, coaches included, for a minute’s silence before kick-off to remember the 50 victims killed in Christchurch.

“It’s really neat,” said Gibson, a former Crusaders stalwart and assistant coach before linking with the Waratahs.

“I think that transcends sport, to put that (rivalry) aside to think of others in far worse situations.”