The All Blacks backed up last week's great effort at Eden Park with another four-try demolition of the Springboks at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.
The All Blacks had been near perfect last weekend in Auckland and although they did not hit that peak again in Wellington, the performance was still mighty.
The forwards started well and again dominated the rucks and mauls as the home side made plenty of chances, and took a couple of them, in the first half.
The Springboks were better than in Auckland, but their tactics are not suited to the new rules and a few of them looked like they needed to recharge the batteries.
Their kicking was not accurate and they made too many critical errors.
The All Blacks did not rest on their Auckland laurels, and played the game at pace from the start.
Prop Owen Franks said the plan was to start well and meet the Springboks physically.
"It feels good to back up. Everyone is happy.
"It was a tough test match ... the team has just trained really well and things are just clicking," Franks said.
"I think the big difference from last year is guys are smashing people in tackles and getting them behind the advantage line.
"We wanted to let them know early on [that] we're back again and here to take it to them."
The All Blacks won a few turnovers and held firm in defence in the middle stages of the second half as the Springboks swung on to attack, but the visiting team could not find the tryline.
The All Blacks had gone into the break 13-7 up but should have been further in front after creating plenty of opportunities.
But the Springboks tackled well, and an inability to hold on to the slippery ball proved costly for the All Blacks.
The home side scored its first try after just seven minutes.
Outstanding No 8 Kieran Read fielded a high ball then fed his backs, who charged up the sideline.
The ball was shifted left and when fullback Mils Muliaina was held up, big Ma'a Nonu picked up the ball and could not be stopped from 5m out.
Four minutes later, the All Blacks were in again.
The Springboks turned the ball over and halfback Piri Weepu picked it up then found Muliaina, who showed he still has plenty of speed left by running nearly 50m to score.
Muliaina later said he had stepped on the gas because he thought Springbok speedster Bryan Habana was chasing him.
"There was a bit of doubt there that I would make it but as it got closer I knew I would get there," Muliaina said.
"There is still a bit of pace in those old legs yet. I was running for dear life when you get a chance like that."
Muliaina said the Springboks showed in the later stages they did not rely solely on kicking, and that they could move the ball through their hands.
The Springboks came back with a try to lock Danie Rossouw just before halftime after winger Jean de Villiers was held up near the line from a break by halfback Ricky Januarie.
Rossouw had plenty of energy after cooling his heels on the sideline for 10 minutes early in the game for kicking out at All Black skipper Richie McCaw in a ruck.
The All Blacks switched the ball well at times and found plenty of space in the first 40 minutes.
Morne Steyn kicked a penalty early in the second half to narrow the lead to just three points, but winger Rene Ranger scored a try in the corner for the All Blacks.
Weepu then banged over a penalty, taking over from a misfiring Dan Carter, who ended up slotting three from eight attempts.
The Springboks came back but the All Blacks' defence held and Israel Dagg, on for Ranger, then walked past four South African defenders to seal the win.
Schalk Burger, the best for the Springboks, scored a consolation try near the end.
Impressive for the All Blacks were Read, McCaw and Weepu, while Muliaina showed he will not give his test jersey away without a fight.
Springbok wing Jean de Villiers has been suspended for two weeks for a dangerous tackle, NZPA reports.
De Villiers faced a Sanzar judiciary hearing in Wellington yesterday morning after he was cited for an alleged lifting tackle on Ranger in the 27th minute of the match.
Sanzar judicial officer Dennis Wheelahan, QC, found de Villiers guilty of the charge after considering submissions from de Villiers, his representatives and video evidence.
De Villiers, who admitted making a dangerous tackle, was suspended for two weeks up to and including August 1, which means he will miss South Africa's Tri-Nations match against Australia in Brisbane next Saturday.
Wheelahan said an important mitigating factor was de Villers' exemplary disciplinary record, of one yellow card for persistent infringing during a career spanning nearly 10 years and 60 tests.
Tri-Nations
The scores
All Blacks 31
Ma'a Nonu, Mils Muliaina, Rene Ranger, Israel Dagg tries; Dan Carter 2 pen, con, Piri Weepu pen
Springboks 17
Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger tries; Morne Steyn pen, 2 con
Halftime: All Blacks 13-7.
