The test, as predicted by All Black coach Steve Hansen, was indeed won and lost in the tight five. The All Blacks, for 40 solid minutes, just were not good enough up front.
So brutal earlier this year against England, they failed to deliver that collective grunt, accuracy and go-forward that matters so much against the best teams. The Boks had more control and influence in the collision areas and so much of what happened in the game comes back to that one key fact.
The All Black lineout was perhaps the biggest disappointment. It was not just the amount of lost possession that was damaging, but the lack of quality that came with the throws that were claimed.
Again, much like what happened in Wellington, the All Blacks were too frequently penalised at the breakdown. Duane Vermeulen was magnificent in that department and, if there is one area of daylight between the teams, it is their respective influence at the tackled ball.
''It's a massive key to their game and they are so strong over the ball,'' All Black hooker Dane Coles said.
''They slow your ball down as well and if we can't get that quick ball then we can't play rugby. They have big boys over the ball and they are so hard to move.''
Without possession, or at least spells of continuity, the All Blacks could not build their attack game and were not able to easily stop the Boks working theirs.
And that was pretty much the story of the first half - the Springboks were more accurate and effective in the tight five and, as a result, were able to play off quality possession and score three tries.
A thousand tests and more have run to a similar script and probably as many again have followed a similar pattern in that once the All Blacks were finally able to get their hands on the ball and enjoy periods of domination, they had left themselves too much to do.
''We didn't start as well as we would have liked and we gave the ball back too many times,'' captain Richie McCaw said.
''We didn't get any momentum and consequently we were down on the scoreboard.
''But we got ourselves back in the game and gave ourselves our chance. I was really proud of the composure and the belief in the guys to hang in there. I thought our defence was pretty magnificent really. We didn't have a lot of the ball and yet we didn't give them a lot of opportunities.
''That was great but you have got to start better when you are playing the Boks. Not good enough because it makes it a tough old day. Disappointing really because we missed an opportunity.''
There was a third major reminder for the All Blacks - teams are most vulnerable straight after they score points.
Following Dane Coles' try which put the All Blacks 25-24 ahead, they failed to deal well with the kick-off. Tawera Kerr-Barlow took it and delayed his kick which was charged down in a collision that resulted in the All Blacks being put under horrific pressure and the halfback's knee imploding.
Instead of playing deep in Springbok territory, the All Blacks found themselves scrambling for five minutes until Liam Messam was penalised for a high tackle on Schalk Burger.
It was an unfortunate incident - accidental and without impact on the game - but referee Wayne Barnes had no choice.
''I thought it was a great game of rugby and could have gone either way,'' Hansen said.
''But my heart tells me that the Boks deserved it today.
''The penalty at the end, I have no problem with Barnsey giving the penalty. I feel a wee bit for Liam [Messam] because the guy [Schalk Burger] was tackled and fell into it and I don't think there was any intention but unfortunately that's what happened.''
Rugby Championship
The scores
Springboks 27
Francois Hougaard, Handre Pollard (2) tries; Handre Pollard 3 con, pen; Patrick Lambie pen.
All Blacks 25
Malakai Fekitoa, Ben Smith, Dane Coles tries; Beauden Barrett 2 con, 2 pen
Halftime: 21-13.
