The Springboks saved their most emphatic statement for last.
Rassie Erasmus marked his 100th test as head coach by watching his side claim the inaugural trophy 3-1 in Baltimore.
While the All Blacks repeatedly threatened to claw their way back, South Africa answered every challenge with relentless physical pressure and lethal opportunism.
These were the five moments that defined the series finale.
1. EARLY RED FLAGS
The warning signs flashed early for the Springbok defence.
Despite playing on a narrow, NFL-spec pitch, New Zealand needed less than eight minutes to find space down the left hand touchline and send Codie Taylor over in the corner.
The relative ease with which the All Blacks carved through that outer channel immediately brought back old anxieties. The Bok defensive system had faced severe scrutiny throughout the build up, and giving up such a soft score so early suggested another long night of chasing shadows.
It put the world champions under immediate pressure to fix their alignment before the match slipped away.
2. KRAPPIES CRASHES THE PARTY
The Springboks needed a response, and they found it by weaponising the All Blacks' own fears.
The strike came right off the back of a driving lineout. After conceding a massive 20 metre maul try in the third test, New Zealand were extra cautious and threw extra numbers into the moving pile of bodies.
When the second shove never came, Cam Roigard was left defending the blindside while big lock Sam Darry had to cover the openside. Still half committed to the maul, Darry shot up too quickly out of line and was left grasping at air as Morne van den Berg stepped inside him to score.
The strike proved the All Black pack was still carrying scars from Soweto. The mere threat of the Bok maul created the chink in the armour.
3. HARD SLOG
It ended with Will Jordan scoring next to the left-hand upright, but the build up told the real story of the physical toll being exacted.
The All Blacks were forced to construct a punishing 33 phase attack deep inside the South African 22 before they could finally break the line.
It was points on the board for New Zealand, but it felt like a moral victory for the Bok defence. The All Blacks rarely have to work that hard for a try, and the sheer exertion sapped enormous energy from the visitors right before halftime.
Whatever lingering fears existed about a compromised defensive system were thoroughly allayed in those gruelling couple of minutes.
4. THE FINEST OF MARGINS
Damian McKenzie’s linebreak appeared to have opened the Springboks up.
All he needed was to connect with Josh Moorby on his inside, but Moorby’s foot caught Cameron Hanekom’s shin before he went down under a tackle that appeared fractionally early.
Referee Karl Dickson and his TMO examined every available angle. There was not enough evidence to rule either the contact or the tackle a penalizable offence.
It was a brutal outcome for New Zealand. Play continued, Moorby remained on the ground protesting and the entire complexion of the match changed within seconds.
5. FINISH AND KLA
Kurt-Lee Arendse had been a thorn in the All Blacks’ side all match.
His fleet feet and lightning steps had repeatedly opened them up down the right. When Moorby spilled the ball and New Zealand were unable to reset their defensive line, Mr Rocket Shoes saw one more opening.
Arendse collected the loose ball, burst through the first gap and found only three defenders waiting. He ran directly at the burly Tupou Vaa’i, stepped him with ease and raced through untouched.
What might have become an All Black try had turned into seven Springbok points at the other end. The potential 14 point swing made it 37 to 21 with less than eight minutes remaining.
Arendse had finished it. And the Series as a contest was KLA.