Alapati Leiua's late intercept try has stolen a much-needed victory for the Hurricanes as they toppled the Crusaders 29-28 at Westpac Stadium tonight.
It was a game the Hurricanes barely deserved to win after they looked scratchy throughout the contest but through the impeccable goal-kicking of Beauden Barrett and some committed forward play they were able to hang on.
Down by six with only minutes left a flying Leiua intercepted an Adam Whitelock pass and the wing sprinted away to get the Hurricanes on the board in 2013 after they had dropped their opening two games.
It was a harsh way for the Crusaders to lose after they had dominated long periods of the game and led by as many as nine points at varying stages of the encounter.
Ryan Crotty is often the forgotten man of a Rolls Royce Crusaders backline but the nimble second-five showed plenty of gas to score the opening try of the game in the 26th minute.
The 24-year-old fielded the ball about 40 metres away from the tryline and set off as he beat four tackles along the way to cross the chalk and give the Crusaders the lead.
Crotty's brilliance appeared to wake the Hurricanes up who found their way in to the game and threatened to score a five-pointer of their own just after the half-hour mark but were forced to settle for their second penalty goal courtesy of Barrett.
The All Blacks pivot then gave his side the lead and a slender advantage with two more penalties late in the second spell.
His long-range strike in the 39th minute was right on the end of his range as it only scraped over the crossbar, much to the delight of the 12,902-strong crowd at the Cake Tin.
The Hurricanes lost their hard-working hooker Dane Coles early in the second half after he rolled an ankle, which was a frustrating way for the All Black rake to end his 50th appearance for the Hurricanes.
As the game progressed in to the second spell, Crusaders hooker Corey Flynn crossed the line in close quarters and after numerous replays the TMO decided to award the try, which was well converted by first-five Dan Carter.
Down 14-12, the Hurricanes tried to force the flow of the game but their lack of execution again proved costly as Crusaders fullback Israel Dagg hacked a dropped pass down field and produced a couple of neat touches to guide the ball to the line as he fell on it to bank another five points.
Carter's flawless night with the boot continued as he added the extras before the Hurricanes finally broke a lengthy try-scoring drought via blockbusting wing Julian Savea.
The former Rongotai College pupil bumped off two would-be defenders, including Dagg, to crash over in the left-hand corner of the northern end of the ground as the Hurricanes started to find their stride.
Just as the Hurricanes looked as though they had found their way in to the contest, a mistake again proved costly as Carter scored from yet another turnover from the home side.
Matt Todd nearly put the game out of reach for the visitors in the 67th minute but his calls for a try were denied on review.
From there another long-range penalty from Barrett, who kicked seven from seven, and Whitelock's misplaced pass allowed the Hurricanes to claim an unlikely win.
Todd Blackadder's men have now lost their first two games of the Super Rugby season, although they did snatch two bonus points tonight for their effort.
Hurricanes 29 (Julian Savea, Alapati Leiua tries; Beauden Barrett 5 pens, 2 con) Crusaders 28 (Ryan Crotty, Corey Flynn, Israel Dagg, Dan Carter tries; Carter 4 con) HT: 12-7
