The Chiefs celebrate another try against Wales in their humiliation of the northern power.

The Chiefs have emphasised what the All Blacks have continually proved – New Zealand is the powerhouse of world rugby.

An under-strength Chiefs team blew away the Welsh midweekers 40-7 in Hamilton on Tuesday night with a result that has showed the growing gap between New Zealand rugby and the rest of the game.

Wales aren't a great side – the effort of their second-stringers peppered with test players proved that. They aren't a bad team either, persistently competitive in the northern scene.

Sky Sport Wales coach Warren Gatland looks on at Waikato Stadium as his team get put to the sword late in the midweek tour match against the Chiefs.

But this was a match that showcased the speed and strength of Super Rugby. The two-time champion Chiefs were simply too slick for Wales who couldn't capitalise on their chances and then paid the price for some shocking defensive lapses.

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* Recap: Chiefs have a field day

* Analysis: The ugly truth of Six Nations

With two consecutive World Cup wins and the Highlanders reasserting New Zealand's Super Rugby dominance last year, these are rosy times for the Kiwi game.

Let's rejoice in it. Someone always has to be setting the standards in sport and when it comes to rugby, it might as well be New Zealand where the national game remains cherished.

It's up to the rest of the world to catch up.

There are signs that some are taking that on board in the wake of the last World Cup.

While the Chiefs' result on top of the All Blacks opening test win last weekend were powerful messages from New Zealand, elsewhere southern teams were struggling against northern counterparts.

The ability of England to get over Australia in Brisbane and the Irish to beat the Springboks in South Africa, are proof that the axis of world rugby remains stable.

But it's taken an Australian to inject some much-needed steel into the English team and Kiwi Joe Schmidt continues to work marvels with Ireland, so much so that he is now being courted to return home to take over the Highlanders and pitch his claims for the All Blacks job.

Schmidt might have to wait.

Results like those over the past few days in New Zealand will help Steve Hansen believe he might have another World Cup in him with the All Blacks.

Master-motivator Hansen has shown he can continually get more out of the All Blacks, including clever strategies for huge events like the World Cup.

The next major target on his radar is next year's tour of New Zealand by the British & Irish Lions.

The woeful Welsh have done little to suggest that tour will differ from any of the recent visits here by the Lions, especially with their coach Warren Gatland tipped to stay in charge of the combined side.

But Wales aren't the Lions and the Lions aren't just Wales and New Zealand fans need to be reminded of that.

The combined force fo the Home Unions promises to be more stout than the wobbly Welsh.

If England and Ireland can complete remarkable series wins on foreign soil then anticipation will be high for their return Down Under next year under the umbrella of the Lions.

There's a fair bit to play out yet in terms of the Lions and Gatland might find himself relying on his experience factor to counter the growing claims for the top job by the likes of Jones and Schmidt.

Jones reckons he has no interest in the Lions position though that early talk may change if his stocks continue to grow up north.

Jones enjoys the banter and hype of the international game and appeals as someone who could certainly inject vigour into the Lions just as he has with England.

A Hansen v Jones battle might be just as interesting as the tangle of their two teams.

Right now it looks like it might take the power of four teams – England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland – to have any chance to get one over the All Blacks.

Then again, like Wales, the Lions may have already committed scheduling suicide by agreeing to games against all five Super Rugby franchises, the Barbarians and New zealand Maori on top of three tests against the All Blacks.

Reality suggests the tour is another chance for New Zealand rugby to flex its muscles rather than the Lions to repeat their 1971 heroics here.

By the time the first test rolls around the Lions will have played six matches against quality opponents like the Chiefs. The tour might be over before it's even started.

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