After almost seven months on the sidelines, the newlook Black Ferns have delivered a reminder of their world champion pedigree with a 50-0 romp over Australia in the opening match of the Pacific Four series at Brisbane.
Playing their first test since November's World Cup final triumph, the NZ women were a class above the Wallaroos, running in eight tries to extend their flawless record against their trans-Tasman neighbours and begin life under new coach Allan Bunting in impressive fashion.
Playing in front of a packed crowd at Brisbane's Dolphins Stadium, the hosts had no answer for the pace and power of the New Zealanders, outmatched in all facets of the game, as the gap between the two nations seems only to widen.
The result means the Laurie O'Reilly Cup - contested annually between the two teams - remains in New Zealand, where it's been since its 1994 inception.
There were signs of rust at times, with a lack of cohesion and basic handling inaccuracy, but nothing more than you'd expect from a side with several debutants and refining their style under new coaching direction.
The Ferns featured no shortage of standouts, highlighted by the brilliance of teenage midfielder Sylvia Brunt. The youngest member of the squad at 19, Brunt was irresistible in attack, slicing the Australian defence apart like a knife in a two-try performance that earned her player-of-the-match honours.
Co-captain Ruahei Demant was typically prominent, spearheading the trademark Black Ferns brand of expansive, offload-heavy rugby that will clearly remain their edict under Bunting.
Wing Mererangi Paul celebrated her debut with a brace of tries, while No.8 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u led the way in a bruising defensive display that suffocated the life out of an Australian attack that barely threatened the NZ line all night.
Both sides took their time settling into the match, with the Black Ferns showing the rust of their long layoff with some uncharacteristic mistakes that saw them pinned in their own half for an extended opening spell.
Eventually, they got on the front foot and into opposition territory on the back of some thunderous defence, cashing in immediately on a slick lineout move that sent prop Tanya Kalounivale on a bulldozing 15m run to the chalk, sending defenders tumbling, as she crashed over for the game's first try.
The try clicked the Black Ferns into gear, with the outstanding Brunt breaking out a lethal right-foot step to burrow over from close range and double New Zealand's advantage to 14-0.
The midfielder was over again 10 minutes later, with almost a carbon copy of her first try, jinking through two tacklers and showing great strength to ground the ball under the crossbar.
The Black Ferns struck again immediately, as Paul chipped over the defensive line, beat the cover defence to the ball, and exerted just enough downward pressure to claim the try and send her side into halftime with an intimidating 26-0 lead.
The Kiwis kept the foot on the pedal to start the second half, with Mikaele-Tu'u bursting off the back of a scrum, setting up Paul for her second try after less than two minutes.
Bunting and his staff had the luxury of rolling the substitutes early, eager to get a good look at their new squad on the test stage.
Lock Chelsea Bremner was the next to cross, driving over the chalk with defenders on her back to wrestle the ball down.
The final quarter was less structured, but the NZ defence continued to make life miserable for the Aussies, who couldn't cash in on the stiff breeze at their backs.
There was time for two final nails, as flanker Alana Bremner cut back on a super running line to brush off defenders and score, before centre Amy DuPlessis' incisive run delivered a try for debutant halfback Iritana Hohaia.
The Black Ferns now travel to Ottawa to face hosts Canada (July 9) and the United States (July 15).
Black Ferns 50 (Brunt 2, Paul 2, Kalounivale, C. Bremner, A. Bremner, Hohaia tries; Holmes 4, Willison conversions) Australia 0
