All Blacks ace Daniel Carter has revealed he only resumed goalkicking in the lead-up to Saturday night's great escape when he broke Queensland hearts with a sideline conversion.

Carter couldn't have asked for more in his first match in six weeks back from an ankle injury, guiding the Crusaders to a memorable 27-21 comeback win with a try, two pivotal goals and signature playmaking off the bench.

His second goal, from near touch on his non-preferred left side, gave the Cantabrians the lead 22-21 with just four minutes left and virtually sunk the gallant Queenslanders.

It's testament to the class and coolness under pressure of Carter that he slotted home the conversion with his recovered left foot.

"With the injury and things I only started kicking again a week ago," he said.

"It was just one of those things that the work I've done on the training pitch over the last few years (kicked in) and I didn't really lose too much."

When the 44-Test five-eighth was thrust into the Suncorp Stadium clash in the 53rd minute, a major Super 14 upset was brewing with the home side leading 21-8.

But he - with the help of fellow All Blacks Ali Williams, Corey Flynn and Andy Ellis - transformed the Crusaders who then suffocated the Reds, dominating possession and territory in an unrelenting attack.

"DC obviously had an impact in terms of direction, that helped the forwards," Crusaders coach Robbie Deans said.

"He provided just a little a bit of direction and tightened us up a little bit and we started to profit from some of the pressure we were building.

"Prior to that we were a little bit inaccurate in trying to over-achieve."

A modest Carter, in the sights of cashed-up European clubs, played down his efforts was just relieved to be playing again after tearing ankle ligaments in late March.

"The boys had set the platform and created a lot. It was just a matter of going out there and continuing it and finishing off," he said.

The 26-year-old reserved more praise for his direct opponent, mercurial Waikato-raised five-eighth Quade Cooper who got the better of Crusaders young gun Stephen Brett in the first 50 minutes.

Cooper, 20, stepped three players near the line that gave Queensland their 13-point lead early in the second half but also laid on a first-half try on a platter for skipper James Horwill and saved two tries by stopping Ellis and holding up Flynn.

"He's really making progress," Carter said. "Right throughout this season he's matured a little and he's really a capable first-five.

"He's great running the ball and he's got some good vision and he's only going to get better."

Reds coach Phil Mooney had little doubt Deans would have also been impressed by his opponents.

"Robbie, as the incoming Wallabies coach, would have taken great heart by the performances of a lot of our blokes tonight," he said.

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