Crusaders race clear in 13-try rout
From the opening try in the second minute of the match to the 13th five-pointer - which completed a hat-trick for Johnny McNicholl - the seven-time champion Crusaders were simply too good for the visitors from Australia.
Only momentary lapses in concentrations allowed the Rebels get their four tries.
The lop-sided encounter kept the Crusaders one point behind the Chiefs, who also collected maximum points when they whipped the Reds 50-5 on Friday - and ensured the New Zealand conference will go down to the wire.
Had Richie Mo'unga been at his kicking best the Crusaders would have been nudging 50 points by half-time, as they scored seven tries in the first 40 minutes to turn with a 43-7 lead over the injury hit Rebels.
They added a further six tries in the second half and were threatening competition records until their relentless scoring pace tapered off in the final quarter.
The Crusaders set the record for the highest score in Super Rugby when they beat the Waratahs 96-19 in 2002.
They scored a record 14 tries in that match, which was equalled by the Cheetahs earlier this year when they beat the Sunwolves 92-17.
Stung by their loss to the Chiefs last week, and losing their place at the top of the ladder, the Crusaders were determined to make amends as they thrived on audacious offloads against a brittle defence.
Sam Whitelock, in his 100th Super game and captaining the side in the absence of Kieran Read, set the tone when he scored the opening try after 90 seconds.
"We weren't happy after last week and we wanted to start well and the boys did that, spot on," Whitelock said.
Although the Rebels ranks were decimated by injury and flank Colby Fainga'a was converted into a back to plug a hole in the second half, captain Nic Stirzaker made no excuses.
"It was a pretty rotten start, a charge down and a try early and then it was tough to stop the rot once it set in. We were pretty dreadful and they were exceptional," he said.
In addition to McNicholl's triple, Ryan Crotty and Codie Taylor both scored two tries, while Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Alex Hodgman, Nemani Nadolo, Pete Samu and Matt Todd also crossed the line.
Mo'unga landed seven conversions and Nadolo two.
Nic Stirzaker scored the Rebels only try in the first half with Reece Hodge, Culum Retallick and Sefa Naivalu scoring after the break.
Jack Debreczeni landed three conversions.
The Crusaders finish off the regular season next Saturday hosting the Hurricanes in a rare afternoon match and just ahead of the Chiefs' clash in Dunedin against the defending champion Highlanders.
The Rebels, who are well out of contention in the Australian conference, play the Reds on Friday.
Man of the match: Picking out an individual in such a lopsided display is very tough - not just because so many players stood out, but also because this was indeed a team performance. However, Ryan Crotty, missing from last week's loss to the Chiefs, showed again why his stocks are rising rapidly in New Zealand. Matt Todd also deserves a mention for doing the hard yards and Johnny McNicholl, who got a hat-trick.
The scorers:
For the Crusaders:
Tries: Whitelock, Crotty 2, Barrett, Hodgman, Nadolo, McNicholl 3, Taylor 2, Samu, Todd
Cons: Mo'unga 7, Nadolo 3
For the Rebels:
Tries: Stirzaker, Hodge, Retallick, Naivalu
Cons: Debreczeni 3
Teams:
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 David Havili, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Jimmy Tupou, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Mike Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitch Hunt, 23 Kieron Fonotia.
Melbourne Rebels: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Sefa Naivalu, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Tom English, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Nic Stirzaker (captain), 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Colby Fainga'a, 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Sam Jeffries, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 James Hanson, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Pat Leafa, 17 Cruze Ah Nau, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Steve Cummins, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Paul Asquith, 23 Jonah Placid.
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)