The NSW Waratahs have seized control of the Australian conference with a comprehensive 50-29 Super Rugby victory over the Sunwolves in Tokyo.
The Waratahs ran in seven tries to three - including a double to halfback Jake Gordon - to bag an all-important bonus point on Saturday at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium.
Their third-straight win pulls the Tahs to within one competition point of the conference-leading Melbourne Rebels, ahead of another vital derby next Saturday in Sydney against the Queensland Reds.
NSW coach Daryl Gibson and captain Michael Hooper were expecting an up-tempo, free-flowing encounter and so it turned out.
The two sides piled on 55 points in the first half alone, with the Waratahs enjoying a 38-17 lead at the break, courtesy of Gordon's first try in the sixth minute. This was followed by strikes from centre Curtis Rona, flanker Will Miller, Gordon again and fullback Bryce Hegarty.
Hooper's five-pointer three minutes into the second half put the result beyond doubt.
Two replies from the Sunwolves threatened to deny the Waratahs their bonus point, but a try to powerhouse winger Taqele Naiyaravoro nine minutes from the death ensured the visitors left the Japanese capital with the maximum return.
Five wins and a draw from their first seven matches in 2018 have given the Waratahs their best start to a season in nine years.