Embarrassing: Crusaders crushed by Brumbies in Super Rugby horror show

There was nowhere to hide for the Crusaders following a 50-24 Super Rugby defeat to the Brumbies in Christchurch.

Remarkably, the game was in the balance with eight minutes to go with the Brumbies leading by just seven points.

But three unanswered tries later, Crusaders coach Rob Penney was left to stomach an extremely disappointing defeat.

“We just lack a little bit of cohesion, or quite a bit of cohesion and the Brumbies just grew on the back of that.” Penney said.

“The last 20 was just embarrassing wasn’t it.”

Too embarrassing for most of the home crowd to handle as they headed for the exits before the fulltime hooter as the men from Canberra ran rampant.

The Crusaders started well enough with a try to captain David Havili in the 9th minute but the errors that saw them lose to the Highlanders in week one started to flood back in.

The Brumbies took control with the wind at their back to lead 19-14 at halftime, forcing the Crusaders to make 130 tackles.

Fatigue set in for the defending champions as the Brumbies galloped away with the game, securing their first victory in Christchurch since 2000.

The Crusaders now face the real prospect of going 0-3 to start the season for just the third time in franchise history.

“They’ll be the first ones looking in the mirror, they’ll be really disappointed with themselves.” Penney said.

“We’re doing a lot of handling at training and under pressure but something’s just not quite right at the moment.”

Penney will have to find a fix, and fast, with their next two games tough ones against the Chiefs and the Blues away.