The Brumbies produced a valiant second half comeback but it was ultimately not enough to stop the red-hot Crusaders as they secured the 37-26 win at GIO Stadium.
The Aotearoa champions set up the victory with a dominant first-half performance, sending a message to the rest of the competition.
So what did we learn from the match?
1.Statement
The Crusaders made their title intentions clear as they dominated the Brumbies at GIO Stadium.
After slow starts against the Waratahs and Force, Scott Robertson's side had a point to prove as they stunned the hosts with two quick tries, racing out to a 23-5 lead.
Whilst the Brumbies showed their class to get back into the match, the visitors' defence in the last 10 minutes ensured any hopes of a comeback were dashed almost instantly as they secured the vital win.
2. 'Un-Brumby' performance
That was the assessment of the Stan Sport commentary and it's tough to argue against as the Brumbies struggled in the first half.
The Brumbies gifted away possession on countless occasions, allowing the visitors to build scoreboard pressure, putting the game out of reach.
They gave up eight turnovers in the first half, more than their victory over the Chiefs, which captain Allan Alaalatoa lamented after the match as they couldn't overcome the large half-time deficit.
3. Wright moves
Tom Wright continues to make a serious case to be selected in the Wallabies 23 to face England on July 2.
Outside of one mistake (which we'll touch on later), Wright was by far the most dangerous with ball in hand for the Brumbies, threatening with every touch.
He single-handedly kept them in the game with a clutch intercept before running the length of the field and bursting through a Richie Mo'unga tackle to score a great try.
Having shown his versatility over the past couple of weeks, Wright did his Wallaby chances no harm as he produced another standout performance.
4. Milestone man
Richie Mo'unga once again showed his class as he brought up 1,000 Super Rugby points for the Crusaders.
His absence was evident in the Waratahs defeat, finishing with 17 points as he powered the visitors to victory.
Mo'unga remains key to their title claims, marshalling their attack across the park.
5. Simple mistakes
Often it's the key between a good team and a great team, no different in tonight's performance by the Brumbies.
After scoring through Folau Fainga'a, the Brumbies gifted possession inside the 22 when Wright ran into his own teammate, causing the accidental obstruction and the scrum to the Crusaders.
From this, the visitors negated the try as Will Jordan strolled over the line untouched, allowing them to seal the win.
It's something so simple but costly, showcasing how good the Kiwi sides are at taking those half chances
