Talk was of an upset in Lyon on Friday night which would eliminate New Zealand after the group stages at a rugby union World Cup for the first time in the 10 competitions stretching back 36 years.
The chatter was silenced during 40 first-half minutes at the Groupama Stadium in which New Zealand scored seven converted tries.
Italy's response during the onslaught? Tommaso Allan's penalty just after Will Jordan had acrobatically touched down the first.
Scrum-half Aaron Smith scored three, skipper Ardie Savea bagged a brace and Mark Telea rammed his way over.
Italy had never beaten New Zealand in their 15 previous encounters but they came into the Group A meeting more psychologically enhanced than their opponents having trounced Namibia and come from behind to see off Uruguay. New Zealand, outwitted by France in the opening game of the tournament on 8 September, had relaunched their quest with a pummelling of Namibia.
New Zealand boss Ian Foster had warned his players to disregard the winning record against the Italians in the hunt for the quarter-final berth from Group A.
A 49-3 scoreline at the pause suggested that his message had been heeded.
Concentration
And after the break it was simply game management after Italy's spark to score through Ange Capuozzo. Allan's conversion took them into double figures.
But New Zealand simply absorbed the impertinence.
Watson sent on Sam Whitelock for his 150th appearance to become the most capped New Zealand player and the side racked up tries from Brodie Retallick, Dalton Papali'i, two from Dane Coles and another from Jordan. Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown also chipped in as McKenzie took over kicking duties from Mo'unga.
"The World Cup's full of games where there's a bit of an edge to them," said Foster.
"And we certainly had an edge to that performance. So I'm really proud of it."
At least Italy got the final score at the death .Montanna Ioane finished off a flowing move on the right wing.
But it was poor recompense for a squad that had harboured hopes of securing the victory that would take them to a first quarter-final.
"It turned into a bit of a glorified training run for them, didn't it?," italy coach Kieran Crowley admitted.
"They put the pressure on us. We gave away eight penalties because of that pressure in the first-half. And so what happened? We weren't good enough. They were too good. So I give them credit."
With the victory New Zealand move above Italy into second place behind pacesetters France.
Italy will qualify if they beat France next week in Lyon while New Zealand must overcome Uruguay to guarantee their place in the last eight.
"Now we've got to do the same next week against Uruguay," Foster added. "Because the same applies. Next week is equally as important as tonight but this win means that we've put ourselves in control of our own destiny and that's where we want to be."
Italy will take on a France side likely to be without skipper Antoine Dupont.
The 26-year-old is recovering from surgery on a cheek injury he sustained in a collision with the Namibia skipper Johan Deysel on 21 September during the 96-0 win over the Africans in Marseille.
