The Blues went a long way to silencing their critics when they beat the Crusaders 34-15 with a bonus point at Eden Park in Auckland.

The Crusaders only managed to score five penalties while the Blues scored five tries in the match.

The result is the first time that the Blues have beaten the Crusaders since February 2011 and ends a three match losing streak against the Crusaders.

Blues winger Frank Halai scored two tries for the second week in succession as the Blues kept the Crusaders tryless.

Halai scored a double on his Super Rugby debut last weekend against the Hurricanes and scored his two tries in the first half this week.

Winger George Moala and backrowers Steven Luatua and Luke Braid also scored tries for the Blues.

An off night with the boot from Piri Weepu prevented the scoreline from being even more lop-sided, with the Blues half-back missing three conversions and two penalties.

Blues skipper Ali Williams said the performance, which builds on an upset win over the Hurricanes last week, was all about regaining respect after a dismal 2012 season when the Auckland outfit finished 12th.

"We lost a lot last year and we're slowly going to try and get it back one game at a time," he said.

The Crusaders, missing talismanic captain Richie McCaw, who is taking an extended break from the game that will see him sit out most of the season, were plagued by handling errors and poor discipline.

McCaw's absence at the breakdown was apparent in the first try, when the Crusaders turned over the ball and the Blues laid seige to the tryline until Steven Luatua crossed out wide after latching onto a cut-out pass.

Rene Ranger then split the Crusaders' defence and after sustained pressure Frank Halai forced his way over the line on 27 minutes.

He scored his second five minutes later, leaping to gather a Chris Noakes chip kick in the corner to make it 20-12 at half-time.

Carter narrowed the gap with a penalty after the break but Luke Braid replied with another try for the Blues and Weepu kicked the conversion make it 27-15

After the attacking flair of the first half, it was all hands on deck in defence for the Blues in the final 15 minutes as the Crusaders desperately tried to find a way to the tryline.

The Crusaders were held up in the in-goal area twice then Israel Dagg burrowed his way through a crush of Blues players, only for his effort to be disallowed after being ruled a double movement.

George Moala put the result beyond doubt when he dashed down the sideline after the restart, brushing off a Tom Marshall tackle for the Blues fifth try.

Final Score Blues 34 (20) Crusaders 15 (12)

Scorers

Blues
Tries - S. Luatua, F. Halai 2, L Braid, G Moala
Pen - P Weepu
Con - P Weepu, C Noakes
Drop -
Cards -

Crusaders
Tries -
Pen - D Carter 5
Con -
Drop -
Cards -

Match Officials
Referee: Chris Pollock
Assistant Ref 1:Jonathon White
Assistant Ref 2:Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri
TMO : Ben Skeen

Teams

Blues

1. Tom McCartney, 2.James Parsons, 3. Charlie Faumuina , 4. Culum Retallick , 5. Ali Williams , 6. Steven Luatua , 7. Luke Braid , 8. Peter Saili , 9.Piri Weepu, 10. Chris Noakes, 11. George Moala , 12. Francis Saili , 13. Rene Ranger, 14. Frank Halai ,15. Charles Piutau

Replacements : 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Angus Ta'avao,18 Liaki Moli, 19 Brendon O'Connor, 20 Bryn Hall, 21 Baden Kerr

Crusaders

1. Wyatt Crockett , 2. Corey Flynn, 3. Owen Franks ,4. Luke Romano , 5. Samuel Whitelock , , 6. George Whitelock , 7. Matt Todd , 8. Kieran Read (c) , 9. Andy Ellis, 10. Dan Carter ,11. Israel Dagg ,12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Robbie Fruean , 14. Adam Whitelock, 15. Tom Taylor

Replacements : 16. Ben Funnell , 17. Joe Moody, 18. Dominic Bird , 19. Luke Whitelock , 20. Willi Heinz , 21. Tyler Bleyendaal , 22. Tom Marshall