KEY POINTS:
It was supposed to be a celebration, a tour to commemorate 100 years of rugby league in New Zealand. Instead, there has been little to pay tribute to, other than the memorial services for past Kiwis and rugby league pioneers like Hubert Turtill and Albert Baskerville.
It started poorly with a 58-0 thrashing at the hands of Australia, got worse with allegations of sexual misconduct by four players - later dropped by police - and hit another low with the 44-0 thumping by Great Britain in the second test.
Little surprise, then, that the Kiwis were swept 3-0 by the British.
Throughout, the spotlight has been on coach Gary Kemble. With a review to be conducted when the side returns home this week, the indications are not good that he will keep his job.
Talking before this morning's test against France in Paris, he pointed to the improvement the side made, even saying that the side came of age in the 28-22 loss to Great Britain last weekend.
"From our point of view, [the tour] will be remembered for the adversity we have had to come through to become better people and better players, a better team, better coaches and better management," he said.
"I have always said that we have come through probably the worst adversity in Kiwis history. But we have come through it. It could have faltered pretty badly."
In reality, it did. There were no obvious issues off the field but the biggest indicator that not all was well within the camp was the fact they fell to pieces all too easily on the field.
A united team doesn't capitulate like they did.
The biggest thing Kemble wanted out of the tour, apart from winning, was to create depth ahead of the World Cup.
Some of those on tour will be a part of a New Zealand squad trying to win the prize for the first time but a lot more will need to have a good season in 2008 to press their claims over players who missed the tour through injury.
Skipper Roy Asotasi is a certainty, while Dene Halatau, Simon Mannering, Paul Whatuira, Shontayne Hape, Sam Rapira, Chase Stanley, Sam Perrett and Jeremy Smith (Melbourne) will likely feature. Others will come into contention, like Louis Anderson, Jeff Lima, Thomas Leuluai and Ben Roberts, but for some this was perhaps their last Kiwis tour.
As one observer said last week, some of these players won't know what it means to play for the Kiwis until they realise their chance is gone.
Kemble was satisfied that improving depth had been achieved.
"We now have a nucleus of about 26 players that we know won't let us down," he said. "There are 12 or 13 from this squad who we would put in and there are another 14 who are in contention for the World Cup back home, and a lot of them have over 20 tests under their belt.
"In the third test [against Great Britain] we found three back-rowers who were awesome and with Sonny Bill Williams, David Kidwell and David Fa'alogo [to come back in] it looks like we have back-rowers up to the task.
"We have depth in props, led by Roy. He has led by example on the field. Jeff Lima looks as though he will be a test-match player and Sam Rapira will be around for a long time.
"Fuifui Moimoi was a little disappointing. He was found out a little in where and how to run. We have to teach him to run better lines at this level rather than at club level.
"It all comes back to winning it up front and, as long as we have a great forward pack, we're going to do wonders in the backs."
The concern, however, and its not a new one, is finding players to fill the No 9, 7 and 6 jerseys.
There is good cover now at fullback with Brent Webb, Krisnan Inu and Perrett, but the Kiwis are still short of players to direct the team around the park.
Souths' duo Eddie Paea (halfback) and Isaac Luke (hooker) are seen as good prospects but the World Cup might be too soon for them because they have no international experience and only a handful of NRL games under their belts.
Jerome Ropati could slot into five-eighth but it's not a position he plays regularly at the Warriors.
Kemble has been a victim of circumstance because of the many injuries and retirements with which he has had to contend. He has lacked able leadership. What leaders there are in the side have not respected him as coach, which has filtered throughout the squad.
Kemble said he would have done only one major thing differently: putting his foot down about training in the week leading up to the first test with Australia to set the tone for the tour.
"It was a bit too relaxed. I said it on the Wednesday that it just wasn't right but it was too late by then. I should have said it on the Monday. That's a mistake I made. From then on, the intensity and commitment was superb in terms of training. I wouldn't have changed anything."
Kemble knows he faces scrutiny when he returns to New Zealand but is confident of surviving.
"I have always been confident in our ability as coaches. People don't realise how hard we have worked. We have worked our butts off to get it up and running. This team came of age last weekend.
"If I [thought] we haven't done the job expected of us, then I would put it in the review but I think we have done a good job to try to create depth in the Kiwis and create players who are going to make it to the top."
When asked if he would be allowed to fulfil his contract and coach the Kiwis at the World Cup, Kemble replied without hesitation, "for sure".
It's not up to him, however.
There have been 27 official Kiwis coaches in the past 100 years (early teams were coached by former players or captains). The NZRL will soon decide if they need to look for No 28.
