He replaced the golden boy but Tom Taylor overshadowed Dan Carter last night and proved he could prove a worthy successor in the No 10 jersey for the future.

Taylor, 23, scored all the Crusaders' points in the 31-24 win over the Stormers by amassing a try, conversion and eight penalties - equalling a Super record set by several other players since 1996.

With All Blacks star Carter switched to second five-eighth to allow Taylor to take over the goal kicking duties at AMI Stadium, the rookie was expected to play a minor role - and then defied expectations by proving the red stuff flowing through his veins must be laced with ice.

Taylor proved the star of the show with a performance that would have had his father, former All Blacks midfielder Warwick Taylor, and the rest of the region heaving with a mixture of pride and relief.

If Super Rugby is criticised by the snooty leather-patch elbow brigade north of the equator as being too much candy floss and razzmatazz, then this show would have been more to their liking. It was more pragmatic than pretty as both teams denied each other the opportunity to spend periods inside their own half; their game plans were eerily similar - kick, chase, defend, counter-ruck with intelligence and rely on referee Chris Pollock to get his penalty rulings correct.

Pollock didn't always get it right either. Giant Crusaders loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett was left waggling his melon with disbelief when yellow carded for a high tackle on Siyamthanda Kolisi in the 29th minute.

Crockett admitted his shot was high but there was no malice and unlike the 17,500-strong crowd who howled with anger he declined to verbalise his discontent as he trotted to the naughty chair. The Stormers could be aggrieved for a similar call in the final quarter; flanker Rynhardt Elstadt went high on Owen Franks and despite Pollock ruling only a penalty was warranted he produced a yellow card on the insistence of assistant ref Vinny Munro.

The departures of giant Andries Bekker and his fellow second rower Eben Etzebeth with injury in the first half was expected to hinder the Stormers lineout but this lot from South Africa's Western Cape were too professional to let that upset them.

Instead they ground away with their trademark game of controlled fury in defence and patience on attack and staying composed in the set pieces.

This strategy was never more evident than when wing Bryan Habana scored a controversial try in the 60th minute.

A mountain of phases, the majority involving their forwards carting up the leather, were capped off by a pinpoint cross-kick by halfback Dewaldt Duvenage for a lurking Habana.

There was much angst among the local brethren, however, when replays showed Pietersen clearly lost the ball in contact but try stood and the Stormers had closed the gap to 22-21.

Two more penalties to Taylor stretched the gap and it was left to the Crusaders to maintain their composure before stretching the season record to 4-3.

The first 15 minutes were all part of the Taylor show; the young pivot succeeded in converting his own try after slotting a penalty as the Crusaders bounded to a 10-3 lead.

Despite a lineout loss, when Sam Whitelock failed to control his take, the Crusaders were quickly back on the attack following a snappy ruck turnover instigated by tighthead prop Ben Franks.

When the ball was shifted wide the Stormers found themselves in a sticky situation. The Crusaders moved the ball wide and the final quick transfers from forwards Kieran Read and Corey Flynn resulted in Taylor steaming for the line unchecked.

For Crusaders fans the celebrations were quickly switched from full volume to mute as Stormers centre Juan de Jongh struck the jackpot.

Mis-communication between Carter and Robbie Fruean allowed a pass to pop free and when de Jongh happily plundered the opportunity with his boot there was no chance of Carter beating him in the subsequent footrace. Despite having Crockett in the sin bin until the final minute before halftime the Crusaders maintained their composure to amass two Taylor penalties to Joe Pietersen's one.

But this night belong to Taylor and the Crusaders.And, the winless Stormers Christchurch streak continued.

Crusaders 31 (Tom Taylor try; conv, 8 pen)

Stormers 24 (Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana tries; Joe Pietersen pen conv, Peter Grant 3 pen).

HT: 19-13