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The Western Force have conceded 48 unanswered points to wilt to a 53-10 Super Rugby defeat to the Chiefs in Hamilton.
The home side led 12-10 at halftime but powered across for seven of their nine tries in a lop-sided second spell, including four to inside centre Charlie Ngatai.
Coming off a successful tour of South Africa and Argentina, it extends the Chiefs’ winning streak to three matches and keeps them on top of the Australasian group.
It was a third successive loss for the hapless Force and mirrored their 41-6 thumping from the Hurricanes last week, when their defence also evaporated in the second half.
The winning margin was a record for the Chiefs against the Western Australian outfit while Ngatai equalled the franchise record for tries in a game, moving level with former wingers Sitiveni Sivivatu and Asaeli Tikoirotuma.
A heavy travel schedule and mounting injury toll didn’t hamper the two-time champions.
They played at high speed from the opening whistle, with their classy backline thriving off a quality Chiefs forward effort led by Japan captain Michael Leitch at No.8.
Fullback Damian McKenzie crossed twice to extend his competition-leading tryscoring tally to six. He also leads the point-scoring list with 85, despite an off night with the boot, landing three from eight shots at goal.
The Chiefs have established themselves as the competition entertainers, conjuring 28 tries in their first five games.
Their opener on Saturday was probably the best of the lot, sweeping 90m as four players – McKenzie, Brad Weber, Aaron Cruden and James Lowe – touched the ball at least twice each to send the diminutive McKenzie over.
The Force responded with their lone try to centre Ben Tapuai before Leitch powered over from a scrum just before halftime.
Ngatai’s first try came from quick hands but the floodgates truly opened when Force No.8 Angus Cottrell was shown a yellow card for a lifting tackle on winger Sam McNicol in the 56th minute.
Three tries were scored while the visitors were down to 14, to Lowe, Ngatai and reserve winger Toni Pulu from his first touch in Super Rugby.
The visitors’ plight was summed up when the Chiefs chased down what seemed to be a certain Force intercept try to Solomoni Rasolea, who lost his nerve and passed, resulting in a breakdown in play.
McKenzie bagged his second try and Ngatai his last two, before the final points were claimed by Stephen Donald.
The former All Blacks five-eighth was greeted by an enormous roar when he nudged over the game’s last conversion, having come off the bench in his first Chiefs appearance since 2011.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.