The men from the South went out and rolled all over the Sunwolves in Tokyo, winning 52-0 after leading 33-0 at halftime.
It was a complete performance from the Highlanders as the score suggests and the biggest winning margin recorded by the team.
Sure, the Sunwolves did not turn up - in fact, they would have been better off waving the white flag at the opening whistle.
But the Highlanders were too strong in all facets. The scrum was all over the Sunwolves and was in top gear throughout. The home side was in reverse gear and pulled its tighthead prop after less than 30 minutes.
The lineout work was good from the Highlanders while the side put plenty of continuity into its game.
And when the backs opened up they found holes in a defence which was about as solid as a British Brexit policy. They ran hard with the ball in hand and were too slick for their counterparts.
Chances came along at a rapid clip and they were mostly taken - pleasing for a side which has butchered far too many opportunities this year.
The visiting team scored five tries in the first half and added another three in the second half as the Sunwolves were kept scoreless.
Although it would be hard to single out any Highlander in a great team effort, locks Tom Franklin and Jackson Hemopo were outstanding while out the back first five-eighth Josh Ioane was classy in everything he did.
The only worry for the Highlanders was the loss of Bryn Gatland to a serious-looking leg injury near the end.
The first try went to lock Franklin in just the fourth minute.
The big second rower busted the defence up the middle and, when he was not held, got up and went again.
When finally held he slipped the ball to halfback Aaron Smith who, held just a metre from the line, freed the ball back to Franklin who flopped over the line to score.
Just five minutes later, and the Highlanders had their second try. A huge scrum won them a turnover and from there the side swept down the field.
Franklin busted the defence and, when the ball went to the right, the visiting team had a huge overlap and prop Tyrel Lomax went over.
Straight from the kick-off, the Highlanders scored again.
Ioane put in a cross kick to the right and it was caught by winger Sio Tomkinson. He roared down the sideline and linked with his insides.
The Highlanders quickly looked to move the ball wide the other way and, after a penalty against the Sunwolves for offside, the ball went over to an unmarked Tevita Li, who strolled over to score.
It was more than a point a minute as next to score was Ioane who threw a dummy 5m out with the Sunwolves line fractured and he spied the gap to easily go over.
The conversion put the side ahead 26-0 after just 20 minutes.
The pressure was kept on by the Highlanders and centre Rob Thompson went over but it was ruled out for a Highlanders player taking out a home town defender.
The Highlanders though had their fifth try after 31 minutes and it was a simple affair.
A lineout 7m out was won by the Highlanders and the side successfully drove the ball over with Liam Coltman picking up the five pointer.
-In last night's other game, the Crusaders beat the Lions 36-10 in Christchurch in a rematch of last year's Super Rugby final.
Highlanders 52
Tevita Li 2, Tyrel Lomax, Tom Franklin, Josh Ioane, Liam Coltman, Rob Thompson, Sio Tomkinson tries; Josh Ioane 5 con; Bryn Gatland con
Sunwolves 0
Halftime: 33-0