The Christchurch-based Crusaders scored two tries in the first five minutes and four in the first half on the way to a 49-8 win over the Fijian Drua, who beat them in Lautoka, Fiji in round three.
Hooker Codie Taylor scored two first-half tries as the home side unleashed their forward power against a Drua team playing in the quarter-finals for the first time.
The Crusaders stung the Drua with tries to prop Oli Jager and hooker Taylor inside the first five minutes and added a second to Taylor and another to back-rower Sione Havili-Talitui before the Drua brought their fans to their feet with an intercept try to winger Selestino Ravutaumada.
The 11-time champion Crusaders led 28-8 at halftime and lock Scott Barrett started the second half with a try.
But the Crusaders began to lose their shape when they drained their bench and the Drua opposed them more physically.
Having used up the full bench so early and already decimated by injuries through the regular season, the Crusaders were down to 13 men in the last 10 minutes when flyhalf Richie Mo’unga limped off, joining lock Zach Gallagher, flanker Ethan Blackadder and others already ruled out.
They extended their lead despite that disadvantage when fullback Will Jordan, who had one try disallowed, scored another in the 66th minute.
They finished with a try to halfback Willi Heinz in the 78th minute and will next host the Auckland-based Blues in the semi-finals.
“Very pleased with how the boys played tonight,” said Crusaders captain Barrett.
“To finish with 13 men … we covered well.”
The Crusaders, hunting a seventh championship trophy in seven years to send off departing head coach Scott Robertson, stretched their winning streak in Christchurch to 28 Super Rugby playoffs.
Having upset the Crusaders in Fiji earlier in the season, the Drua turned up with hope of at least pushing the hosts.
But they were soon reeling as the Crusaders racked up four converted tries in the opening 33 minutes.
– with Reuters