The Black Ferns have begun their 2024 international campaign in convincing fashion, inflicting a 57-5 defeat on United States in their Pacific Four opener at Hamilton.
Fullback Mererangi Paul - playing at that position for the first time in black - collected a first-half hattrick of tries and twice passed up the opportunity for more, as the home side imposed themselves on the Americans early.
After the break, the visitors came more into the contest and were eventually rewarded with a try, but not enough to trouble the reigning world champions.
New Zealand needed less than two minutes to open their account, breaking from a defensive scrum, with winger Katelyn Vaha'akolo making metres down the sideline, co-captains Kennedy Simon and Ruahei Demant linking in support, before a long pass put centre Amy du Plessis over beside the posts.
Retaining the kickoff, the Ferns were quickly at the other end of the field, with winger Ruby Tui providing the final pass for Paul to score. Vaha'akolo had the third try, when she received the ball inside her own half, swerved infield and then back out towards the corner, without a hand laid on her.
Paul had another, chipping ahead and regathering, and after 10 minutes, the Americans were 24-0 down, without having the ball in their hands.
The Americans finally secured some possession, but soon, the Kiwis were back on attack, with debutant halfback Maia Joseph kicking across the field for unmarked Paul and a rapidfire hattrick.
Du Plessis crossed between the posts, but her double was ruled out for obstruction. The Americans failed to clear their dangerzone, Paul almost had her fourth, before lock Maama Vaipulu was driven over for a try on debut.
The US cause was not helped, when they lost powerful centre Eti Haungatau to a knee injury after half an hour, but after their initial onslaught, the NZ women went 14 minutes without scoring to lead 36-0 at halftime.
The Americans began the second half stronger, with first-five Gabby Cantorna making a long run into NZ territory. Winger Lotte Clapp was stopped metres out by Paul and Vaipulu, and flanker Freda Tafuna made a threatening run off the back of an attacking lineout.
Their attack stalled, when prop Hope Rogers knocked on, while reaching out for the tryline, but the Ferns did not clear and they had to commit to defence for several minutes, before venturing back into US territory.
Suddenly, the shackles were broken. Vaha'akolo stepped down the sideline and Paul could have had her fourth, but looked inside for Tui to score.
Finally, USA were on the scoreboard, taking advantage of another scrum penalty to build phases, before Tafuna barged over for a try and then limped to the sideline.
New Zealand's impetus had ground to a halt, but from a lineout, they swarmed upfield, with No.8 Layla Sae fending off three tacklers on her way to the line, as the home side brought up 50 points.
From the kickoff, centre Sylvia Brunt breached the defence and found Demant, who provided the final pass to replacement winger Patricia Maliepo. Rookie first-five Hannah King slotted her third conversion from as many attempts.
"We had identified opportunities in the backfield and tried to isolate the backfield as much as we could to create space on the edges," reflected Demant. "You could see that right from the start.
"When we were able to freeze the middle and get the ball to our edges, we've got really fast outsides, so we got a lot of purchase there. Once the USA became concerned about our edges, it started to open up through the middle.
"Happy, but never satisfied and never complacent as well. We know the way we defended is not the standard we're proud of and that will probably be a really big review point."
Next Sunday, the Ferns take on Canada, who have already beaten USA and face Australia later Saturday.
Black Ferns 57 (Paul 3, du Plessis, Vaha'akolo, Vaipulu, Tui, Sae, Maliepo tries; Demant 3 & King 3 conversions) USA 5 (Tafuna try)
