Chiefs' coach Dave Rennie wasn't sure his team's thrashing of Wales said anything about New Zealand rugby, but he sure knew it said plenty about his own team.

The Chiefs wrote themselves a new chapter of history after becoming the first Super Rugby side to defeat an international team, with a stunning 40-7 victory in Hamilton on Tuesday night.

Chiefs halfback Brad Weber scores the opening try. Photo: Bruce Lim/Photosport.

Warren Gatland's homecoming turned into a sorry affair for the tourists, who, despite fielding their second stringers, were expected to deal to a Chiefs side minus not only their All Blacks, but several others through injury.

In the end, the 17,756 at FMG Stadium Waikato were treated to a brilliant display from their team, who were gutsy on defence, and swept Wales off their feet with their athleticism, as captain for the day Stephen Donald led from the front magnificently.

After overseeing a maiden title-win in 2012, then backing it up the following year, Rennie has now guided the franchise to a different, unique achievement, which flexed New Zealand rugby's muscle ever more.

The Welsh were dealt some late injury blows, and were forced to get a few more of their frontliners involved, with test skipper Sam Warburton playing 45 minutes, and also handing more game time to loose forward Taulupe Faletau and midfielder Jamie Roberts, but it did nothing to help them on a night which was all the hosts'.

Rennie noted there was probably a bit of a hangover from Wales' first test defeat to the All Blacks at Eden Park, and that his side were able to lift for the special occasion.

"I'm not sure if it says anything about New Zealand rugby," he says. "What it tells you is that we've got a pretty tight group who work hard for each other."

Rennie was "really rapt" with the way new players took on leadership duties and how his side gutsed it out when under pressure, then nailed their opportunities, following a stirring pre-match haka, which was another first for the franchise.

Look, we knew we had to front big time obviously missing the All Blacks, who have carried a lot of game time for us," he says.

"We knew it was going to be watched by massive numbers around the world

"It was a pretty special performance, because we played a fair chunk of the game without the ball. There was a hell of a hot of scrambling.

"And then when we had the pill we worked hard, and we were pretty clinical.

"We've got a pretty tight group, and we found out a little bit more about some other guys tonight."

The Chiefs' didn't escape the match without any punishment though, with prop Mitchell Graham injuring a hamstring, lock Michael Allardice doing his knee - possibly his PCL - and loose forward Tevita Koloamatangi left nursing a shoulder.

But, ahead of a big showdown on Super Rugby's resumption on July 1 against the Crusaders in Fiji, the Chiefs have shown more than enough, both on this occasion, and already this season, that whoever they use can get the job done.

Chiefs 40 (Brad Weber, Tom Sanders, Dominic Bird, James Lowe, Toni Pulu, Sam McNicol tries; Stephen Donald 4 con, James Lowe con) Wales 7 (Kristian Dacey try; Rhys Priestland con) HT: 21-0.

- Aaron Goile/Stuff.co.nz