Japanese rugby fans got a taste of what to expect at next year's Rugby World Cup on Saturday as New Zealand beat Australia 37-20 in front of 46,143 at Nissan Stadium, the largest crowd ever to watch a test match in Japan.

At the ground that will host the final of Rugby World Cup 2019, the All Blacks outscored the side they beat at the 2015 World Cup final five tries to two to make it a 3-0 sweep in this year's Bledisloe Cup series.

With the weather conditions perfect -- but the playing surface less so, cutting up badly at scrum time -- the men in black dominated nearly every facet of the game to remind everyone why they have been ranked No. 1 in the world for nine straight years.

"It was a good start," said All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, whose team will play Japan, England, Ireland and Italy in the coming weeks.

"Australia played differently to what we are playing in the next couple of weeks but they are a formidable opponent and on their day can play very well. So it was a good performance from us."

Following a haka performed to a mixture of respectful silence and raucous cheers -- despite the large number of empty seats in the stadium that holds 72,327 -- it was the Wallabies who started quickest with Dane Haylett-Petty forced into touch just short of the line with just 90 seconds on the clock.

But that was the only time Australia really threatened in the first 38 minutes as the All Blacks started to dominate territory and possession and put countless phases together.

They turned that dominance into points in the 12th minute as Liam Squire galloped over for the opening score.

An exchange of penalties between Kurtley Beale and Beauden Barrett as the game entered the second quarter saw the gap remain at seven before both sides scored just before the break.

All Blacks captain Kieran Reid crossed from a scrum five meters out, only for Sefa Naivalu to reply as the Wallabies made sure their second incursion into the All Blacks' 22 was rewarded with points.

Given the number of turnovers they were committing -- the count was 9-1 in New Zealand's favor at the break (and 18-7 by the end of the game)-- the Wallabies could feel pretty pleased the scoreline was just 17-10 as the teams turned around.

"They are never an easy team to break down and clearly they were motivated in the first 30 minutes," All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster said of the first half, in which the All Blacks had 66 percent of possession and 72 percent of territory.

The second stanza started with the Wallabies once again getting out of the blocks the quickest.

Bernard Foley slotted over a penalty in the 48th minute before Barrett responded with a kick of his own eight minutes later as the All Blacks finally got out of their half.

That score sparked the Kiwis back into life and Barrett crossed from 40 meters out following a well-worked backline move.

With the Wallabies forced into playing catchup rugby, a loose pass from Israel Folau was intercepted by Ben Smith as the All Blacks stretched their lead to 19 points with 10 minutes remaining.

"We gave too many opportunities to New Zealand, and a team like that makes the most of them and are so clinical in those areas," Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said.

Folau made up for the error with a try five minutes from time, but it was the All Blacks who had the last word as man-of-the-match Rieko Ioane went over following a through-the-legs pass from Barrett, who finished the day with three conversions and two penalty goals to go with his try.

"Too many turnovers at key moments and too many turnovers in general," rued Australia coach Michael Cheika.

"We need more perseverance with ball in hand and not always try to hit a home run with the first play."