The Black Ferns have been welcomed back to the test arena in brutal fashion, outclassed 43-12 by England at Exeter.
A battle-hardened England ensured the Black Ferns' 100th test match will be memorable for all the wrong reasons, recording their biggest-ever win over their southern rivals.
The Kiwi women showed all of the rust you'd expect from two-and-a-half years in the international wilderness, as a clinical English outfit proved why they deserve their No.1 international ranking with a commanding performance across Sandy Park.
Using their set-piece dominance as their foundation against an inexperienced Ferns pack, England were able to dictate field position and territory against some uncharacteristically shaky NZ defence.
Playing with plenty of width, fullback Ellie Kildunne wreaked havoc on the left edge, while wing Abby Dow cashed in with a brace of tries. Wing Ayesha Leti-I'iga was a menace for the Black Ferns, but her supply of quality ball was scarce.
With 12 months remaining until the World Cup, the Black Ferns have plenty of work ahead, if they're to defend their crown on home soil, with Monday's display stamping England as likely favourites.
The hosts opened the tryscoring in the 12th minute, after a searing run from Dow set the platform for lock Abbie Ward to charge over the chalk.
The pair were at the crux of the second English try minutes later, with Dow dragged down inches short of the line after a slick set-piece move and Ward powering over from the ensuing ruck.
In the dying moments of the half, England's persistence on the left flank paid off again, as Kildunne sliced through a gap for a richly deserved try to send them to the sheds with an imposing 17-0 advantage.
The Black Ferns began the second half desperately needing to be the next team to score and they did precisely that, as Chelsea Alley's chip at the line found Alana Bremner and the flanker did the rest to celebrate her debut with a try.
But England soon had the momentum back on their side, camping down in NZ territory with several raids from set-piece, while the Black Ferns cause was hurt by the loss of Bremner to a yellow card for cynical play.
After repelling a couple of lineout mauls, that pressure eventually took its toll, with Lark Davies coming up with the spoils, via a textbook drive.
Five minutes later, England were in again, with debutant and sevens star Holly Aitchison slicing through a huge hole to cross next to the posts and extend her side's lead to 29-7.
The Ferns were able to pull back a try in the dying stages to Stacey Fluhler - courtesy of some slick handling from the NZ backs - but it was mere consolation, as Zoe Harrison closed out the match with one more nail in the NZ coffin.
The Kiwis will have a chance to square the ledger in the second test at Northampton next Monday.
England 43 (Abbie Ward 2, Ellie Kildunne, Lark Davies, Holly Aitchison, Abby Dow, Zoe Harrison tries; Zoe Harrison 4 con) Black Ferns 12 (Alana Bremner, Stacey Fluhler tries; Kendra Cocksedge con). HT: 17-0
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