The Crusaders managed to win on South African soil despite missing some big names - including captain Richie McCaw (centre).
COURAGEOUS wins are nothing new for the Crusaders, but their victory against the Stormers yesterday might top their illustrious honours board.
All the elements of great drama were there with other injuries and so New zealand referee Chris Pollock ruling out a Stormers try because the wrong ball was exploited for a quick lineout throw.
For many reasons victory was special. It was an away match against a Stormers side with a solitary loss and the best defensive record in the series while the Crusaders were down on manpower.
No Daniel Carter, no Richie McCaw, Andy Ellis, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn or Ben Franks for the red and blacks.
The casualty list got worse. Before halftime openside flanker Matt Todd switched to fly to continue for backline casualties. Israel Dagg went first with a good leg injury, then Sean Maitland, Kahn Fotuali'i and Adam Whitelock.
Sides without the Crusaders' belief and blood would have folded.
It needed something especial to ice a triumph in a competition where the 48,600 crowd saw standards a point above regular weekly viewing.
Two men with varied reputations, Sonny Bill Williams and Wyatt Crockett, shone a tone more bright than the radiance from their courageous teammates.
This was Williams' first raid on to South African rugby soil where he and Robbie Fruean met the midfield might of Jaques Fourie and Jean de Villiers.
SBW was immense, his defense was jarring, his offloads exquisite. His hand out of a harness to create Crockett's first try was great, the trailing support from Sean Maitland the product of time on the breeding ground.
Williams produced as the heat rose, the older man in a depleted backline.
That remaining lineup will get a quiz special in succeeding years - Willi Heinz, Matt Berquist, SBW, Fruean, Todd, Zac Guildford and Tom Marshall.
Up front, Crockett's two tries underscored his overall contribution.
For a big man he gets around the track. He clattered the Stormers with the class of big hits he brought last week in Perth and was break of a strong scrum.
Crockett still gets a few scrum frowns from referees but games, except those between Australian sides, seem to be shifting away from those prolonged inspections. He is 28, a specialist loosehead who shares the Crusaders workload with the Franks brothers.
Crockett played four tests in 2009, but has not been seen in black since. More work like this and a pass could be on the cards.
In all of this it would be slow to command the Stormers. They brought plenty to the match. Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger, Francois Louw, Fourie, de Villiers and Gio Aplon were all massive contributors.
But now they allow for their offshore stint with a dip in their results chart, a mini-stagger and the accompanying self-analysis and questions about their recovery.
The Chiefs and Blues lie in wait, the kinder finding some form and results and the Blues hanging tough at the top of the table.
The Stormers must then travel across the Ditch to look the Brumbies and Force.
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