The Hurricanes earned a 42-13 win over the Western Force in Perth on Friday night, securing their third straight win of 2015 and their first bonus point win of the season.
The Hurricanes out-scored the Force five tries to one, as part of a committed, dominant, all-round team performance.
Physicality and cohesion in the forwards and power out wide saw the Hurricanes out score the Force two tries to nil in the first half and pull clear with 20 consecutive points after halftime, to inflict the heaviest ever home defeat on the Force in their 10th year of playing in the Investec Super Rugby competition.
The Hurricanes now head home and have their bye round next weekend, before hosting the Blues in Palmerston North on March 13.
The Hurricanes attacked the Force's traditional strengths around the rucks and dominated at set-piece time, whilst continuing the pattern of their organised, structured defence of the opening two weekends in South Africa.
The Hurricanes scored first half tries to right wing Cory Jane and lock Mark Abbott, whilst conceding just two penalties.
This was extended with second half tries to No. 8 Victor Vito, left wing Julian Savea and fullback James Marshall, who scored right on fulltime after the Force had scored a late consolation try.
Force flyhalf Zack Holmes landed an early penalty and the home side had led 3-0 early.
The Hurricanes made their first promising raid when Barrett fielded a Force clearing kick, running fullback Marshall into space up the touchline into the 22 and nearly sending left wing Savea over in the corner from a subsequent ruck.
The first try wasn't long coming, however, with the Hurricanes securing a long-range turnover and Savea running it back deep into Force territory. The Hurricanes stretched the Force from the next phase and blindside flanker Brad Shields presented Jane with the final pass.
Barrett broke the advantage line on his own side of halfway, chipped, chased and followed up. The Hurricanes poured through and won another attacking scrum feed, but once again the home side held on by a thread.
The Hurricanes forwards engineered their second try on 25 minutes, picking and driving through the middle of the ruck and lock Abbott crashing over. Barrett's conversion pushed them ahead 12-3.
Concerted attack turned to stiff defence for the Hurricanes as the Force launched a series of lineout drives in the corner only to be pushed back. The Hurricanes re-asserted field possession and Barrett kicked a penalty to extend their lead.
On halftime, the Force made a big push to score a try but the Hurricanes averted their incursion with some committed close-quarter defence and all they could manage was a penalty to fullback Luke Burton.
Early second half continuity by the Hurricanes paid off, with Barrett kicking a well-struck penalty to extend their lead to 18-6.
In reply, Force fullback Burton missed a penalty and then built several phases. The Hurricanes remained patient, won a lineout turnover and second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu put them back on the front foot with a stab kick into the corner.
The Hurricanes won another penalty and Barrett put them ahead 21-6 with 25 minutes to play.
The Hurricanes exerted more pressure on the Force's scrum under their own posts, leading to No. 8 Vito barging over under the posts and Barrett converting to push them ahead 28-6.
Julian Savea made a barn-storming run up the sideline after a break by replacement Nehe Milner-Skudder, beating several defenders, to score the Hurricanes' bonus point try. Marshall added the extras to extend the lead to 35-6
Savea thought he had scored a brace, running on to a Matt Proctor stab kick from a scrum. But he was deemed off-side.
The Hurricanes attacked again, but Force wing Mitchell Scott scored a runaway try with a few minute remaining.
The Hurricanes sealed victory on the hooter when Marshall darted at the line and slammed the ball down over the chalk.
Scores:
Hurricanes 42 (Mark Abbott, Cory Jane, James Marshall, Julian Savea, Victor Vito tries; Beauden Barrett 2, Marshall 2 cons, Barrett 3 pens) beat the Force 13 (Mitchell Scott try Luke Burton con Burton; Zack Holmes penalty) HT: 15-6.
The scoring action (by minute):
2nd: Zack Holmes penalty. Force 3-0
12th: Cory Jane try. Hurricanes 5-3
25th: Mark Abbott try. Hurricanes 10-3
26th: Beauden Barrett conversion. Hurricanes 12-3
36th: Beauden Barrett penalty. Hurricanes 15-3
41st (first): Luke Burton penalty. Hurricanes 15-6
44th: Beauden Barrett penalty. Hurricanes 18-6
54th minute: Beauden Barrett penalty. Hurricanes 21-6
61st: Victor Vito try. Hurricanes 26-6
62nd: Beauden Barrett: Hurricanes 28-6
64th: Julian Savea try. Hurricanes 33-6
65th: James Marshall conversion. Hurricanes 35-6
78th: Mitchell Scott try. Hurricanes 35-11
79th: Luke Burton conversion. Hurricanes 35-13
81st: James Marshall try. Hurricanes 40-13
82nd: James Marshall conversion. Hurricanes 42-13
The Hurricanes team that played the Force was:
1. Reggie Goodes Replaced by Chris Eves, 55th minute
2. Dane Coles (c) Replaced by Brayden Mitchell, 71st minute
3. Ben Franks Replaced by Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 65th minute
4. Mark Abott
5. James Broadhurst
6. Brad Shields Replaced by Callum Gibbins, 65th minute
7. Ardie Savea Replaced by Adam Hill, 72nd minute
8. Victor Vito
9. Chris Smylie
10. Beauden Barrett Replaced by Nehe Milner-Skudder, 62nd minute
11. Julian Savea
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Rey Lee-Lo Replaced by Matt Proctor, 65th minute
14. Cory Jane
15. James Marshall
Reserves
16. Brayden Mitchell
17. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
18. Chris Eves
19. Callum Gibbins
20. Adam Hill
21. TJ Perenara
22. Matt Proctor
23. Nehe Milner-Skudder