The Crusaders claimed a record eighth Super Rugby title with a deserved 25-17 victory over hosts the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.
In doing so, they became the first side to cross the Indian Ocean to win the Southern Hemisphere club championship, lifting the trophy for the first time since 2008.
Tries from wing Seta Tamanivalu, centre Jack Goodhue and number eight Kieran Read extended the Crusaders' record as the most successful team in the competition, while the Lions had to play for 41 minutes after a red card for flank Kwagga Smith.
Hooker Malcolm Marx and prop Corne Fourie grabbed consolation tries in the final 15 minutes for the home side, but they were left with too much to do a man light.
The Lions showed plenty of heart, but could not match the skill level of the New Zealanders.
The visitors opened the scoring when an isolated Elton Jantjies was sacked and the loose ball fell to wing Seta Tamanivalu, who raced 75 metres down the touchline to score.
It was a moment that perfectly illustrated how quickly the Crusaders turn defence into attack, and five minutes later the visitors added a second try, taking the ball through the phases and punching holes in the Lions defence before centre Jack Goodhue dived over in the corner. The conversion from Mo'unga was missed.
Jantjies got the first points on the board for the home side when he punished a Crusaders player not rolling away from the ruck with a penalty from the halfway line.
When Tamanivalu was penalized for a deliberate knockdown on the 22-metre line as the Lions went on the attack, the home side opted for a line-out rather than another three points.
Some stout Crusaders defence from the set-piece meant it came to nothing though as big lock Andries Ferreira was accused of holding on.
This swung further in the Crusaders' favour when Smith was red-carded for an infraction that was more clumsy than malicious.
He chased a high ball with visiting fullback David Havili, but barged into the latter while he was in the air, causing a dangerous fall. Referee Jaco Peyper had no choice but to flash the red card.
Minutes later, the Crusaders went into the break leading 15-3 as Mo'unga slotted a penalty after the Lions had infringed from the scrum.
That numerical advantage was plain to see as the Crusaders simply built up through the phases, stretching the home defence one way and then the other for Read to score under the posts.
Mo'unga added another penalty to widen the advantage, but to their credit, the Lions kept fighting and gave themselves a sniff 15 minutes from time when Marx burrowed over in the corner and Jantjies added the conversion.
The Lions almost grabbed another when Franco Mostert burst towards the Crusaders' five-yard line, but was tackled short and Harold Vorster knocked on as he was tackled on the line.
They did get a second try to make it an eight-point ball-game when replacement prop Corne Fourie scored from close range.
That was the way it ended though as the Crusaders slowed the game down in the final five minutes and sealed their historic victory.