OPINION: The Highlanders showed the Waratahs a few things about where to attack the Crusaders during their 36-24 win last weekend.

Young No10 Richie Mo'unga is one target. Sometimes the Crusaders move him to defend at No.13, and if Nick Phipps can isolate him on a one-on-one against Israel Folau with the sort of passing that Aaron Smith displayed last week, the Waratahs will like their chances of breaking the line. Another is outside-centre Kieron Fonotia, who missed a crucial tackle on Highlanders No.13 Matt Faddes in the first half and was well beaten by the same man on the inside in the second half.

But the Crusaders' loss said more about the excellence of the Highlanders in Dunedin, rather than unmasking them as pretenders. In fact, they have improved since they lost Dan Carter and Richie McCaw: they are a better side than the one the Waratahs beat last year in Sydney.

That sounds nonsensical but it does not mean their direct replacements are superior players. Instead, the entire group has stepped up.

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The distraction of a looming World Cup is also gone. Their All Blacks are playing like All Blacks and those on the fringes of the test team, including rejuvenated fullback Israel Dagg, are playing like they want to be All Blacks. Gone is the predictability of the 2015 side. Blokes are trying to get themselves on the ball and write their own chapter in the franchise's history.

In the first 20 minutes of the game against the Highlanders last week, when the Crusaders played as well as they have all season, I counted at least six players handling the ball at first receiver, forwards and backs. Captain Kieran Read was the dominant forward in this regard – he can also pop up closer to the action as well as hanging out wide – but in the back line the responsibility was shared around. Both wingers came in looking for opportunities, and No.12 David Havili and Dagg were used as second playmakers.

That's the sort of structure and energy that has given their attack a lot of fluency and variety in phase play this year – they have so many players who can handle the ball and distribute as well as offer threats with their handling or footwork. It is a huge challenge for the Waratahs defensively after three games against South African opponents whose instinct is often to dominate contact rather than find space.

The intelligence of the Crusaders' play is really mirrored in how they have treated Mo'unga this year. They haven't asked him to be Carter because that would have failed. Instead, they have asked the likes of Havili – who must be regarded as unlucky to be on the bench on Friday – and Dagg to be more prominent in the line so Mo'unga can pick and choose his moments. He has a lovely, almost old-fashioned show-and-go that the Waratahs must factor in. Although he is a distributor first and foremost, Mo'unga still has enough of a running game to keep defences honest on the inside. And as for his defensive positioning, the Waratahs will have to go looking for him. He defended in both the No.13 and No.10 channels in the Highlanders game, effecting a handy tackle on Waisake Naholo at one stage. Defence is not his forte but neither is the weakness glaring.

The Waratahs were clever last week. As articulated by Dean Mumm in a half-time interview that was remarkable for its insight, the Waratahs realised they were getting dragged into a slugfest that suited the Bulls. Accordingly, they sped the game up in the second half and some of their back line play was lovely in its shape and execution.

This week, their players have aired the opinion that the Kiwi sides bring the best out of them. That is to be believed. It wouldn't surprise if their best football comes over the next month or so because there is the ability within the squad to lift for better quality opponents. But Christchurch will still be a struggle. The Crusaders shed two icons in Carter and McCaw but have not looked back since.

* The Crusaders host the Waratahs at Christchurch's AMI Stadium on Friday with a 7.35pm kick-off.

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