New Zealand scored five tries to stun South Africa and move to the top of the world ranking for the first time in nearly a year.
The All Blacks had not sat at the top of World Rugby's rankings since last September, but a 33-16 victory over the Springboks in the first Test of the Greatest Rivalry series not only moved them top, but sent out a remarkable statement to the rest of the rugby world.
Springboks' winning run comes to an end
South Africa were in the midst of a 12-match winning run - their longest streak under Rassie Erasmus - but Dave Rennie's side produced a remarkable second-half performance that saw the back-to-back world champions left with no answers.
The start of the 'Greatest Rivalry' series arrived with plenty of fanfare. There was a fireworks display and a fly-over by a plane, while New Zealand legend Sean Fitzpatrick - who carried out the trophy alongside Gary Teichmann prior to kick-off - stayed with the All Blacks side to sing the anthem.
First-half tries traded
After the boot of Cheslin Kolbe opened the scoring for the home side, New Zealand would cross the whitewash first. After hammering away at the line, Will Jordan went over in the corner after eight minutes for a record-extending 52nd try for his country.
The Boks would hit back minutes later, with powerful centre Andre Esterhuizen powering his way over the line to restore South Africa's lead. The All Blacks moved back ahead just after the midway point of the first-half, when Josh Moorby was on hand to take back-row Tupou Vaa'i's offload and race away.
Another Kolbe penalty put South Africa ahead at the break, but the Springboks would have been disappointed not to turn their forward dominance into a greater lead - with Malcolm Marx having a try chalked off after spilling the ball short of the line.
Second-half implosion
The boot of Kolbe would extend South Africa's lead at the start of the second-half, but they would soon rue not taking their chances. From nowhere, second-row Fabian Holland charged down scrum-half Grant Williams' box-kick, before latching onto the loose ball to score.
That gave the All Blacks a slender lead, with the try igniting something in Dave Rennie's side. A linebreak by Damian McKenzie nearly created a score for Cam Roigard, but the scrum-half just couldn't quite get to the loose ball in-goal. However, the All Blacks wouldn't be denied for long. Just before the hour-mark, they made it a two-score game. After Ardie Savea was stopped short by a sea of green jerseys, Luke Jacobson forced his way over the line.
10 points down and chasing the game, the Springboks imploded. In the space of two minutes, they were reduced to 13 men after two quickfire yellow cards. First, Marco van Staden was sent to the sin bin for infringing at the breakdown after a dangerous New Zealand kick had put them under pressure near their own line. Then, from the resulting scrum, Cobus Reinach deliberately knocked the ball forward - joining van Staden in the bin.
With a two-man advantage, New Zealand made sure as Jordan crossed for his second try five minutes from time.
