Carlos Spencer was one of Auckland's try scorers

The Crusaders, who are the defending champions, went through last season unbeaten and won their first two games this year.

The Blues have won all three of their Super 12 matches this season and showed they are serious contenders with this powerful display.

"They've got some great attacking power out there and they put us under a lot of pressure. We couldn't get any momentum going," Crusaders' captain Reuben Thorne said.

In the other matches on Saturday, Australian league converts Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri and Nathan Blacklock all scored tries.

The last three were among the scorers as NSW Waratahs won 49-36 away to the Sharks in South Africa.

Sailor grabbed a brace but he could not stop the rock-bottom Queenland Reds losing 43-27 away to the Waikato Chiefs.

On Friday the Wellington Hurricanes registered their first win of the season with a 33-18 victory over the Western Stormers.

Christian Cullen scored two of the Hurricanes' five tries, earning the home side a bonus point and lifting them from the bottom of the table.

Earlier on Friday, Willie Walker's accurate kicking boot carried the Otago Highlanders to a 29-22 win over the Northern Bulls in a battle of two unbeaten teams at Invercargill's Rugby Park.

The Highlanders scored only two tries to the Bulls' three, but Walker's 19 points, including five penalties, proved decisive.

The Highlanders' four points briefly took them to the top of the table, until the Blues went ahead with their defeat of the Crusaders.

Super 12: Week three

Saturday:
Blues 39-5 Crusaders
Chiefs 43-27 Queensland Reds
Sharks 36-49 NSW Waratahs