Captain Richie McCaw was the outstanding figure in this forgettable opening to the test calendar.
The All Blacks are in partial rebuilding mode at the beginning of another World Cup cycle after a mass of departures and an overdue cull of underperformers.
But McCaw is the constant.
His leadership might always have a small asterisk next to it if he cannot end his career a world champion, but his value on the field is unquestioned.
In the bitter cold and driving rain of the Cake Tin, where the flashy stuff was rightly shelved in favour of percentage rugby, McCaw was in his element.
He handled the ball frequently in the first half, led the All Black tackle count (13) and mobilised the team defensive effort to protect the lead in the final 10min.
In person, McCaw looks older now. Of course, he is.
The fresh-faced youngster from the Hakataramea Valley has turned into a warrior hardened by seven years of international rugby.
He has just played a Super 14 semifinal, a final and a test match in the space of 15 days - and in the game's most demanding position - but said he was feeling fine.
He was buoyant about his team-mates, too.
"I think the big thing is we've got some guys in who haven't played together much before," McCaw said.
"We'll take some confidence out of it but hopefully we'll be better against England with a bit more time together."
The two most famous wet-weather All Black tests in the modern era have been against Australia at Athletic Park in 1996 and against the Lions in Christchurch in 2005.
McCaw played in the latter game but said Saturday night was worse.
"That was probably the worst I've played in. I've never really felt cold on the field before but that was very cold. I was actually shivering, which is pretty rare.
"You look at your backs standing and waiting and they were all shaking like hell. It wasn't easy at all."
Conditions ensured there were no breath-taking performances from other All Blacks but some did enough to satisfy the public hunger for reassurance the team is not going to fall apart.
If you had suggested a few weeks ago that props Neemia Tialata and John Schwalger would be a towering presence you would have been run out of Wellington like you were a Crusaders supporter.
Neither had set the Super 14 alight for the Hurricanes or established themselves as a bookend of test quality.
But there was Tialata, overcoming doubts about his fitness to play 80min and earn rave reviews for his ability on both sides of the scrum from coach Graham Henry.
Schwalger, only in the squad as cover for the injured Tony Woodcock, played 50min, contributed to a sound scrum and played a key role in a game-turning Ma'a Nonu try.
Nonu was part of another pairing under the microscope.
He is a much-spotlighted character, both for his rugby deficiencies and the perception he does not seem to demand the highest standards of himself.
But he was not exposed on defence and he took the one genuine chance he got to handle the slippery ball and slide over for the try that broke Ireland's back.
Nonu and Wellington team-mate Conrad Smith combined well in midfield.
They are the brain and the brawn, the basher and the artist, and regular time together may give them a chance to solve a problem area for the All Blacks.
Elsewhere, the sodden men in black tried the best they could in the conditions.
Dan Carter's field kicking radar was initially astray but he played a key hand in the Nonu try and almost created another with a deft boot.
Brad Thorn made a no-nonsense, accomplished return to the test fold.
And Rodney So'oialo worked his dreadlocks off on the blindside.
Generally this was about what you expect from a first test.
The appalling weather killed it as a spectacle and meant we never got to see the All Blacks playing the high-tempo rugby they like.
The Irish were fine, not great and not poor.
But their line-out, expected to dominate, was ghastly and their backs were devoid of creativity.
They also cursed the actions of prop Marcus Horan, whose attempted punch and subsequent penalty halfway through the second spell killed Irish hopes of momentum.
Fears the return to pre-Elv rules would affect the All Blacks' chances proved unfounded.
English referee Chris White might have been a touch lenient on the offside line but he did not excessively reach for his whistle.
New Zealand: 21
Ireland: 11
