Crusaders win the lineout against the Blues at Eden Park.

The Crusaders gather behind their goal-line after conceding a try to the Blues.

Robbie Fruean on the charge for the Crusaders against the Blues.

Israel Dagg (centre) celebrates with team-mates after scoring against the Hurricanes.

Kieran Read looks on disconsolately after the Crusaders one-point loss to the Hurricanes.

Ryan Crotty makes a break during the Crusaders win over the Bulls.

Robbie Fruean celebrates his try as the Crusaders finally get a win this season over the Bulls.

Zac Guildford watches from the stands as the Crusaders beat the Bulls.

Captain Kieran Read was a standout in the Crusaders win over the Bulls in Christchurch.

The Crusaders score a try against the Kings

The Crusaders score a try against the Kings.

Tom Marshall of the Crusaders during the Super Rugby match between DHL Stormers and Crusaders in Cape Town.

Crusaders celebrate the try of Matt Todd during the Super Rugby match between DHL Stormers and Crusaders in Cape Town.

The Crusaders celebrate the win during the Super Rugby match between DHL Stormers and Crusaders in Cape Town.

Matt Todd of the Crusaders scores a try during the Super Rugby match between DHL Stormers and Crusaders in Cape Town.

The Sharks celebrate their win over the Crusaders in Durban.

Andy Ellis scores a try during the Crusaders' loss to the Sharks.

Owen Franks is tackled during the Crusaders 21-17 loss to the Sharks in Durban.

Sam Whitelock breaks a line during the Crusaders' loss to the Force.

Luke Romano dives over for a try which would later be disallowed.

Robbie Fruean fends off Kyle Godwin as the Crusaders went down to the Force in Perth.

The Crusaders celebrate after scoring a try against the Highlanders.

George Whitelock leads the Crusaders on to AMI Stadium for the game against the Rebels.

Ben Funnell is taken in the tackle by the Rebels.

Owen Franks of the Crusaders charges into Nic Stirzaker of the Rebels.

Dan Carter made his return to action for the Crusaders against the Rebels.

Dan Carter is taken in the tackle.

Ryan Crotty on the charge against the Brumbies.

Sam Whitelock gets a pass away in the tackle.

Robbie Fruean (left) and Joe Moody celebrate after the Crusaders win over the Brumbies in Canberra.

Sam Whitelock takes breather during the clash against the Blues.

Crusaders fans show their support for the team in the clash against the Blues.

Dan Carter unleashes a kick for the Crusaders against the Blues.

Andy Ellis talks to the crowd after being presented with a mere in recognition of playing 100 games for the Crusaders.

Andy Ellis surveys his options from the base of the scrum against the Crusaders.

Zac Guildford (centre) and the Crusaders lament their loss to the Chiefs.

Michael Hopper of the Waratahs makes a charge against the Crusaders at AMI Stadium.

Luke Romano wins a lineout for the Crusaders against the Waratahs.

Zac Guildford of the Crusaders passes the ball back to Kieran Read under pressure from Waratah Kane Douglas.

Dominic Bird of the Crusaders attended to by the team doctor during his side's Round 16 clash with the Waratahs in Christchurch.

Crusaders Kieran Read on his way to the try-line.

Willi Heinz of the Crusaders is tackled by Ben Smith of the Highlanders during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Highlanders and the Crusaders.

Sam Whitelock of the Crusaders is tackled by Kade Poki of the Highlanders during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Highlanders and the Crusaders.

Highlanders player Ben Smith jumping in the air for the ball with Crusaders Matt Todd & Dan Carter.

Tom Marshall of the Crusaders is dumped by Ma'a Nonu of the Highlanders during the round 18 Super Rugby match between the Highlanders and the Crusaders.

Ryan Crotty dives over to score for the Crusaders.

Richie McCaw looks on from the Crusaders bench during his side's Super Rugby qualifier with the Reds.

Dan Carter strolls over the line to score a try.

The Crusaders want answers after an official complaint to Sanzar over the "disgraceful and unacceptable" pitch invasions which occured during the Super rugby match in Perth.

Five men were taken into custody following the incidents early Sunday morning (NZ time). One forced referee Jonathan Kaplan to halt the match at a critical moment as the Crusaders were building an attack with about five minutes remaining as they sought to overhaul the Force's 16-14 lead.

Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said player safety was the prime reason why a formal complaint was lodged.

Getty Images ANSWERS WANTED: The Crusaders want answers over the 'disgraceful and unacceptable' pitch invasions at the weekend.

"It was disgraceful and unacceptable in our view and needs investigating."

Riach was astounded that Crusaders back Ryan Crotty and assistant coach Dave Hewitt, a former All Blacks prop, had to deal with two of the intruders rather than ground security.

"To have four or five people on the ground and to have security staff unable to manage it is an issue," Riach said yesterday.

He said all the invaders came from a terraced standing area at one end of the ground where security was "completely inadequate and incompetent."

Riach said in his 12 years in the role he had never seen anything like the repeated infringements.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder was extremely disappointed by the farcial nature of the game's closing minutes.

"It was obviously a really key moment," Blackadder said when the game was halted.

"We got a turnover and we would have counter-attacked and it was about five-on-one. It's poor, it shouldn't happen at this level."

"The crowd needs to be more discplined. It ruined a good game of footy."

Sanzar chief executive Greg Peters also described the invasions as unacceptable and has also called for a full report from match managers and nib Stadium officials.

"It was extremely disappointing and unacceptable behaviour from a small group of idiots in what was otherwise a very good crowd," Peter told news agencies.

"We understand there was about 90 security guards and these idiots were able to invade the pitch."

Peters thought 90 security guards for a crowd of about 16,000 did not seem unreasonable.

He said he could understand the Crusaders feeling aggrieved.

"It's not something we want to see in the game."

"There has been the odd occasion when there have been pitch invasions but there were a number of perpetrators at the weekend which it a little bit worse than normal."

Riach said matchday security was an ongoing issue for every franchise. He said numbers needed to be sufficient and the staff fully trained and competent.

"In this instance it was a complete failure, that's what needs investigating."

He said it did not matter that the Crusaders "were losing by two or had been winning by 50," players and officials deserved to be protected appropriately and not subjected to such incidents.

He said Sanzar had acknowledged the Crusaders complaint and would await the findings of their report. Riach was uncertain what the penalties might be for such breaches.