Rust, borne from a lack of preparation, was an understandable explanation for last week's woes.
Last night in Dunedin, England revealed both their depth and their title credentials for next year's World Cup.
But the end results were the same, as it has been since the 2012 end-of-year tour ended with defeat at Twickenham.
The All Blacks of the late 1960s set the original winning record at 17, spread over five seasons in an age when the fixture list was far less congested. The mark was equalled by South Africa in 1997-98 and, in the intervening years, no side managed more than 14.
Until this team, with a predilection for perfection, racked up wins for fun in 2013. No one would accuse the All Blacks of perfect play the last couple of weeks, but champion teams find a way to prosper when the opposition has them under the pump. Steve Hansen's men will be far better for these two true tests than they would have been had another underdone Northern Hemisphere opponent been served up for another feast, as New Zealand fans often find in June.
The All Blacks will have learned valuable lessons from these wars of attrition, lessons that may reveal their true worth only when the Rugby Championship begins in August.
Some of those surround the team as a whole - like that most virtuous quality of patience - and others will be about individuals. Ben Smith, for example, is rapidly finding himself near the sharp end of the All Blacks' MVP rankings.
After gracing the Forsyth Barr turf in the No15 jersey all season, Smith did likewise in black to give the coaches a real question about their first choice in the position.
It would be reductive to attribute the attacking outburst at the start of the second spell to Smith's try-saving tackle on Manu Tuilagi to end the first, but it very well could have been a different game were it not for Smith's speed.
Neither Aaron Cruden nor Beauden Barrett have made a serious claim to the No10 jersey and, with Dan Carter making his club comeback yesterday, the future will have to wait.
Whether that future includes a revision in the record books remains to be seen. But one thing must be for certain - if Waikato Stadium is indeed treated to a 17th-straight victory, few will begrudge the All Blacks their place in history.
Three things we learned
Finding a way to win
Much has been made of the All Blacks' diminished 'aura' of invincibility, following a season when they were exactly that. And, yes, England have revealed the beatable nature of their hosts. But even when the errors flowed last week and in last night's first half, didn't it seem inevitable the All Blacks would find a way to win? That, rather than any aura, might be the mark of a champion team.
Smith is essential
Towards the end of a first half in which he was already the best All Black on the field, Ben Smith illustrated why he must be included in the starting XV for the foreseeable future. After another error from Cory Jane gifted Manu Tuilagi the freedom of Forsyth Barr Stadium's right touchline, Smith raced across the field from his fullback position, hauled down the flying winger and helped his side trim a potential 14-point halftime deficit to four.
Fresh faces needed
Next week's third test, with the series secure, will give Steve Hansen and co a welcome opportunity to test some of those deeper on the depth chart. Mainstays of the perfect season, both Jane and Aaron Smith were poor and - while it sounds like sacrilege - Richie McCaw was some way short of his best. The World Cup is still more than a year away and a few incumbents may soon start feeling the heat.
