Daniel Carter's return to the Crusaders starting line-up undermined George Smith's latest career milestone as the struggling seven-time champions battled to a precious 30-23 Super Rugby over the ACT Brumbies in Canberra tonight - their first victory in the Australian capital since 2003.



Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder questioned his depleted All Black contingent's motivation when dropping Israel Dagg to the bench and will be pleased the World Cup-winning fullback and Carter were key contributors to a much-needed win.



The Crusaders finally showed the substance associated with the championship reigns of yesteryear at the start of a tense second half when they absorbed massive pressure from the restart before key turnovers by Andy Ellis, Matt Todd and Sam Whitelock culminated in Zac Guildford's crucial score.



A back-tracking Guildford thwarted the Brumbies' swarming raid from the kick off and nine minutes later he took a slick transfer from Luke Romano to dive over in the corner.



Carter nailed the tricky conversion and the Crusaders continued to dominate the third quarter when the All Blacks star nudged over another three-pointer when Smith was penalised at a ruck - underscoring a frustrating outing in his record-breaking 137th cap for the Brumbies.



Carter, who landed six from six, was on target again just after the hour mark to give the Crusaders an impregnable 13 point buffer when Fotu Auelua infringed at the breakdown.



Christian Lealiifano narowed the gap to 10 with a close range penalty but far from heralding a resurgence, the Crusaders sealed the victory when Dagg atoned for a sequence of sub-par performances in style.



A second half replacement from Tom Taylor, Dagg instigated and completed a 90-metre counter attack that involved excellent continuity by Tom Marshall and Robbie Fruean.



The Brumbies, a shadow of the side that thrashed the Western Force 41-7 last weekend, scored a consolation try through captain Ben Mowen and also salvaged a bonus point with two minutes remaining when Lealiifano sensibly slotted his second penalty.



Carter was man of the match though his return to the starting line-up for the first time since the rout of the Southern Kings in March yielded immediate dividends for the Brumbies when his pass for Robbie Fruean was intercepted by rival pivot Matt Toomua, who raced 80-metres to the line in the seventh minute.



Lealiifano added the extras and a 39m penalty pushed the Brumbies into double figures before the Crusaders used the direct approach to good effect after Carter got the visitors on the board with a penalty.



Gifted field position by another Brumbies indiscretion the Crusaders pack took charge, muscling towards and over the line before a screwed 5m scrum enabled Andy Ellis to out flank his marker Nic White and cross in the left hand corner in the 21st minute.



Carter squared the ledger from wide out and the stalemate was maintained until halftime as both sides concentrated on a territorial-based game plan that produced few try-scoring opportunities.



The Crusaders shaded the scrummaging battle despite recalled tighthead prop Dan Palmer's attempts to exert pressure on Wyatt Crockett while both sides struggled to establish a platform via the lineout as Stephen Moore and Corey Flynn had difficulty hitting their target men.



But there was no faulting Flynn's defensive work - or that of the Crusaders eight - who rarely allowed the Brumbies to gather momentum and give a previously potent back three any scope to continue their try-scoring exploits.



The Crusaders could not improve on third in the New Zealand conference nor seventh overall but cut the gap to the second placed Blues -- their next opponents on May 18 after the bye -- to two points.



Meanwhile, the Brumbies also have a guaranteed points boost by taking next weekend off before returning to action against the Waratahs.