The All Blacks celebrating after Beauden Barrett's try during the Rugby Championship game against Argentina at FMG Waikato Stadium in Hamilton. Photo: Jeremy Ward / PhotoSport
Analysis - Fifty-three points, five pitch invaders and one big step back in the right direction. The All Blacks' demolition job of the Pumas last night showed just how good this team can be, so now the next assignment is to perform like that more than once in a row.
It is fair to say the manner of their three victories has improved each time: against Ireland at Eden Park they were reliant on a sudden burst of activity after a very slow start. Against the Springboks at Ellis Park they held their nerve after a somewhat self-imposed period of pressure at the end. Then against the Pumas at FMG Stadium Waikato, the closest we've seen to a complete performance over 80 minutes.
In fact, this was about as well as the All Blacks have played in this regime's era.
This wasn't like any other home test over the history of them and the Pumas, because the pressure was on to avoid any more humiliation after last weekend's shock loss.
The will of this side needed to not just be imposed, but cooked up to a scalding temperature and branded on the visitors so they wouldn't forget it.
It's been pretty easy to point to exactly when the All Blacks lost the games they have this season, but it was equally simple and reassuring to note when last night's game was won. Reassuring because it was nice and early, around when Ethan de Groot skipped out of a tackle to score next to the posts. This was going to be a very different game than the one in Christchurch, and it turned out to be exactly that.
All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane scores a try. Photo: Bruce Lim / www.photosport.nz
So, what was different?
Obviously, Ian Foster has been justified in sticking with his selections, and they repaid his faith with an obviously much improved performance across the park.
Sam Cane admitted post-match that referee Nic Berry's interpretations contributed to a much more open game, which clearly suited the All Blacks' style. Berry now has the distinction of being in control of three tests between the two, with the aggregate score being 130-3 in favour of the All Blacks, so it's no wonder they like him.
It's unlikely any referee would have had much of an effect on an All Black team in that sort of mood.
The key was momentum, which they carried on after the first try all the way through to the final whistle.
It was clear that the onslaught sapped the life out of the Pumas pretty early on, their much-vaunted defence reduced to a mess of flailing limbs and huddles behind their own line. Even the multitude of morons running onto the field and the comedically lacklustre security efforts to stop them could not deter the All Blacks from closing the game out in style.
One of the most pleasing aspects was that Emiliano Boffelli's deadly right boot was only called into action once. That felt like a major corner turned by the All Black forwards in particular, however the fact that the breakdown interpretations can vary so much week to week is something that needs to be addressed.
Foster didn't want to be drawn on the issue after the game, but did say that they'd worked hard on what they could control and that they could adapt to rapidly changing interpretations.
He also admitted the pressure was still very much on, despite what should very much be seen as a statement win. The team now heads to Melbourne where they may enjoy slipping a little bit under the radar in a city that will be consumed with the AFL finals series happening over the next fortnight.
The Wallabies lie in wait, having endured a similarly up and down season that at least their supporters are used to by now. It will be very interesting to see which versions of each team run out onto Marvel Stadium in a week and a half's time.
