It has been a bad three days for English sporting fans. After seeing the footballers beaten by Uruguay on Thursday and knocked out of the football World Cup on Friday, they would have been hoping to get some solace from the rugby players who were seeking a consolation victory in a series where they have been very competitive.
Alas, Chris Robshaw's men produced their worst performance of their tour of New Zealand this June, shipping in 26 points in the first half to their poultry 6 in the first half - it wasn't dissimilar from the performance of Steven Gerrard's men half a world away in Brazil, although the All Blacks probably boasted 15 Luis Suarez's on the night - Julian Savea unlucky not to get his hat-trick in the first ten minutes although he did complete it right at the end.
It was a performance that Steve Hansen and the coaches had been after this month and the sort of performance All Blacks fans have been familiar with for the last couple of seasons - fast, devastating and thrilling.
Like Roy Hodgson's men, Stuart Lancaster's men came back stronger and more determined in the 2nd half and actually won the 2nd half 13-10.
But like the footballers, the rugby players must remember that you need to both halves of a game to be the winner of a match and the men in white will head back to their summer holidays clearly aware of what they need to work on to win the Rugby World Cup on home soil next year.
For all their promise and potential, it was the All Blacks who still came out top and schooled the English in mental fortitude and finishing.
England may be trying to be more expansive and exciting like their neighbours but as in the football, there needs to be substance to back it up.
A good series nevertheless and the ABs will now head back to their Super Rugby franchises to resume and complete what was a thrilling season until the break.
After that, the Rugby Championship and the chance to make history - 18 test wins in a row by a tier one nation could be achieved against Australia in Sydney in August.
Man of the Series - Ben Smith - started the series with a sloppy game on the right wing, but shifted to fullback for the second game and produced a blinder on his home turf, and continued to show his attacking prowess from the back. With Cory Jane finding his mojo again, Izzy Dagg will find it tough to get back into the starting lineup.
Team of the Series -
1.Tony Woodcock
2.Dane Coles
3.Owen Franks
4.Brodie Retallick
5.Geoff Parling
6.Chris Robshaw (7 is the number worn for blindside flankers in English rugby)
7.Richie McCaw
8.Ben Morgan
9.Aaron Smith
10.Beauden Barrett
11.Julian Savea
12.Ma'a Nonu
13.Conrad Smith
14.Cory Jane
15.Ben Smith
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