The All Blacks' exquisite display against the Springboks in Auckland on Saturday has sent shockwaves across the rugby globe, as the three-time world champions forced those who had written them off as World Cup contenders to sit up and take notice.
They ran in four tries against the shellshocked South Africans, en route to a 35-20 victory that sent an ominous warning to their rivals leading into the sport's showpiece event France in September.
Understandably, some of the reaction from scribes across the world has been very enthusiastic.
New Zealand underline World Cup credentials, blitzing reigning champions South Africa
Charles Richardson - The Telegraph UK
"There is little untoward about New Zealand emerging as victors in Auckland - a city in which the All Blacks have not lost since 1994, a now gargantuan 57-match unbeaten streak - but the voracious manner in which they blitzed and bashed the world-champion Springboks will have made the rest of the global game stand up and take note with the World Cup less than two months away.
"Rugby's showpiece in France has dictated that the Rugby Championship this year has taken on a truncated format, with each side playing each other just once. With this victory in Auckland, New Zealand have rested one hand on the tournament trophy; South Africa, meanwhile, with a squad on paper that made the hair stand on end, missed their opportunity for a veritable statement victory ahead of defending their world crown.
"Although the allure of the opening fixture of this year's World Cup is indisputable - France against the All Blacks at the Stade de France - the conventional wisdom had been that Les Bleus, favourites for the title on home soil, would get their tournament off to a victorious start.
"'New Zealand possess wonders but they are not the beast of old' might well have been the thinking, but this South African shellacking demands that the Kiwis are spoken about among the favourites once more."
New Zealand send ominous warning as they storm past South Africa
Stephen Jones - The Times UK
"It was imperfect by some of their own standards, but way too good for the world champions. It was not really that New Zealand laid down a marker, but just a strong reminder that they are around and contenders.
"Surely it should be relatively easy to react when an opposing team play exactly how you knew they would. There were no New Zealand secrets at Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, nothing from up their sleeves.
"The South Africa planners knew that the All Blacks would be running hard from the back, keeping the ball in hand through their back row and midfield, recycling like lightning, kicking rarely and, then, not for touch - the Springbok lineout was to be feared.
"That is exactly what transpired and yet the Springboks could do nothing about it. Forewarned was to be unarmed. They were 17-0 down before they had blinked, in what was a sublime phase of play or a total embarrassment, depending on whether you were dressed in black, or green. And although after that New Zealand subsided as well, there was no way back for South Africa.
"The brilliance, the precision, the pace and the good decision-making of the All Blacks in scoring two dazzling early tries was marked - so good that South Africa could have read their opponents’ playbook and still done nothing about it."
All Blacks make statement with dominant victory over the Springboks
James While - Planet Rugby
"This was an apex test match - another absolute classic in the greatest of all rivalries and one that saw New Zealand put in one of their finest performances under Ian Foster's tenure.
"There was something about New Zealand’s early blast and then the ability to hang into the match as their opponents threw everything at them that was reminiscent of England's showing against the All Blacks in 2019 - it was a brilliant start, undoubtedly engineered by the razor-sharp mind of Joe Schmidt and one designed to fight power with pace and intellect.
"There was very little that went wrong for New Zealand; their scrum competed, they won the early battle of the gainline and they demonstrated clear aerial superiority in the wide channels, a key battle area in this test and one that gave New Zealand three scoring chances which they gleefully accepted.
"Considering the Springbok performance last weekend against Australia, this was a test match that many thought they were the marginal favourites before kick-off, but after 80 minutes the All Blacks had sent out a loud message to the rugby community ahead of the Rugby World Cup - "We are in it to win it!"
All Blacks strike early to beat Springboks
Nick Mulvenney - Reuters
"New Zealand rode another blistering start to a 35-20 victory over South Africa at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday, making a big statement in World Cup year and placing one hand on the Rugby Championship trophy.
"Playing a high-octane brand of attacking rugby combined with immense physicality, the All Blacks scored early tries through Aaron Smith and Shannon Frizell before late scores from Will Jordan and Richie Mo'unga put a seal on the victory."
'Vintage' All Blacks beat Springboks in classic test to continue Auckland dominance
Simon Chapman - Channel Nine Australia
"The All Blacks have kept their extraordinary streak over the Springboks in Auckland intact in another enthralling encounter in the Rugby Championship, winning 35-20 at Mt Smart Stadium.
"The All Blacks haven't lost to the Springboks in Auckland in 86 years - their last defeat coming in 1937.
"Since 1994, New Zealand has been unbeaten. That year, the two sides recorded an 18-all draw.
"Away from the so-called fortress, the Springboks had hoped that extraordinary record might be broken, fresh off the back of their 43-12 thrashing of the Wallabies.
"In the end, the change of venue didn't change the outcome as the All Blacks romped to victory in an all-time classic."