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Reds coach Jeff Miller is bitterly regretting urging the Crusaders to rip into Wednesday night's trial match as though it was the real thing.

The Crusaders got the confidence booster they needed before Super 12 kicks off by smashing the Reds 48-19 in Brisbane.

Beaten in their two previous pre-season games, the Crusaders were far too classy for the Queenslanders. They ran in six tries through Dan Carter, Casey Laulala, Richard McCaw, Caleb Ralph, Ti'i Paulo, and Vilimoni Delasau.

Carter ? filling in at fullback because of Leon MacDonald's unavailability and Scott Hamilton's ankle injury ? converted all six and kicked two penalty goals.

Laulala and Andrew Mehrtens stood out in the backline, and the fired-up pack played the Reds off the park. To make things even worse for Miller, the Reds were left with several players including fullback Chris Latham in doubt for the Super 12 kick-off.

The Crusaders scored converted three tries in the first 20min. Ralph scored a bizarre try just before the break when he touched down the loose ball after Julian Huxley knocked it out of Reuben Thorne's hands when he'd crossed the line.

Two early second half tries for the Reds reduced the deficit to 31-19, but another penalty and two tries completed the Reds' humiliation.