KEY POINTS:
It was a tour when nine All Blacks were blooded; when the Grand Slam was repeated; when the speed, concentration, accuracy and mental clout of the side was too much for any of the Home Unions.
Captain Richie McCaw was again peerless on the openside and his leadership
had an extra dimension. Five-eighths Dan Carter, while not so clinical with his goalkicking, was too slippery and classy for any rivals.
There was everything to admire about the scrummaging of Tony Woodcock, the rejuvenation of Keven Mealamu when Andrew Hore was damaged, the improvement in Neemia Tialata, the allround gifts of Ali Williams and Brad Thorne's workaholic damage in the heart of the pack.
Blindsider Jerome Kaino kept up his improving intensity, while the work from Rodney So'oialo and McCaw was astounding. Go through the backs and there could be similar accolades for the mistake-proof Mils Muliaina and the way Joe Rokocoko returned to his work.
But it might be that Ma'a Nonu, the midfielder who was said to be toying with a code change to league at one stage, was the season's biggest improver.
The coaching staff have spoken strongly about his growing range of skills, his maturity on defence, his improved vision and option-taking.
By the season's end, Nonu had delivered on many of those claims as he rounded out the 32-6 victory yesterday against England at Twickenham with the last try, running 65m to finish a counterattack.
Nonu has now played 33 tests since his first start, against England, in 2003. He is just 26 and showing he can cut it at international level in various ways.
He is still a beast on attack, a handful for any defences with his bullocking charges, sidesteps and ability to shrug off tacklers and put teammates into gaps. His tackling has improved, with the flailing high hits greatly reduced.
He has shown a kicking game. His passing can be deadly accurate, while his fitness may have become his greatest weapon as he showed when he backed up Mealamu and Sitiveni Sivivatu for the final long-range try yesterday.
The question will be whether he can back up again in the Super 14 and beyond, whether he pushes on to cement a season when he answered the clamour for a midfield clinician.
New men such as Cory Jane, Hosea Gear, Liam Messam, Kieran Read, Scott Waldrom, Ben Franks, Jamie Mackintosh, Hikawera Elliot and Alby Mathewson all got varying tastes of life in the All Blacks. Read and Messam may have made the biggest impression, but for all the new men, the next Super 14 will be the time to show the benefits of this expedition.
There will be similar curiosity about whether locks Jason Eaton and Ross Filipo can hammer away after their injuries, while of the coming talent, Anthony Boric, Isaia Toeava, John Afoa and Piri Weepu made mileage.
But there are men left at home because of injury and form - the likes of Brendon Leonard, Sione Lauaki, John Schwalger and Kevin O'Neill - who will be applying the heat.
There are also men at middle level, such as Anthony Tuitavake, Adam Thomson, Stephen Donald, Andy Ellis and Corey Flynn whose consistent production will be monitored.
Like Nonu, looseforward Jerome Kaino made a consistent jump this season to international colours.
Richard Kahui has all the promise but is being denied by the capable crunch and allround skills from Conrad Smith.
For now though the entire squad and staff can rest and reflect well on a season which began under enormous strain and struggled through a mid-season blip before the All Blacks steadied and won every piece of silverware they contested.
