Dane Coles' yellow card bizarrely turned the game at Twickenham - in favour of the 14-man All Blacks: it galvanised them, forced them to be that bit tighter and more focused and they won the test in that 10-minute period.
Jeremy Thrush's match-winning try in Edinburgh - finally nailed the lid shut on a game the All Blacks were struggling to close.
Who was the Player of the Tour?
Kieran Read. He played well all of the time and then superbly when it really mattered. His work rate was huge and every team backed off him wary of what he would do with the ball when he had it. The critical periods in London and Cardiff - Read was in the thick of it.
Kieran Read on the charge against Wales. Photo / Getty Images
Who advanced their cause?
Colin Slade went from not originally selected to a bloke they will find hard to leave at home next year.
Charlie Faumuina came good - really good - and Charles Piutau and Patrick Tuipulotu both confirmed they are useful operators with big futures.
Were there any notable failures?
Hooker, as in building that third option, never really happened. Nathan Harris only managed 15 minutes in the USA and James Parsons was willing but probably not quite ready to play. Dominic Bird was poor at Murrayfield - ran too straight and high and Sonny Bill Williams was well off the pace in Cardiff.
What, if any, concerns will coach Steve Hansen have about next year?
Still no proven third hooker and there will be a bit of wariness as to whether TJ Perenara can close out a big game off the bench. But really the bigger concerns will lie with other teams - as in how good are Ireland? And how much room for growth do South Africa and Australia have?
Where can this All Black side improve in 2015?
Pretty much across the board. They need to work harder at their ball-carrying to dominate the collision and clear the way for quick ball. Their lineout, after a great start to the year, flickered a bit towards the end. Their ability to transition into attack mode was erratic and mentally, there were periods, and in Sydney an entire game, when they just didn't appear to be there. Accuracy, consistency and ruthlessness - these might be the three words on the whiteboard when they come to set vision statements for 2015.
Patrick McKendry
What were the three critical moments on tour?
The comebacks in the three United Kingdom tests. A fantastic second half at Twickenham where the All Blacks coped extremely well without the sinbinned Dane Coles to roll over the top of England; the strong finish against Scotland at Murrayfield where Jeremy Thrush scored a deserved try to cap his best test; and the brilliant final 10-12 minutes of the test at the Millennium Stadium when the All Blacks cut loose thanks to some magic from Beauden Barrett, among others.
The All Blacks' ability to finish so strongly has been a feature of their play for the past 12 months and is a testament to their self-belief, physical fitness and ability to execute their skills under pressure. This was clearly seen in the last 13 minutes against Wales in Cardiff.
Who was the Player of the Tour?
Colin Slade. Not named in the squad initially, he was a late call-up during the Twickenham week following Cory Jane's hamstring injury against the USA. He apparently received the call while still celebrating on the Sunday with the Barbarians, who had just lost a thriller 36-40 in England at Twickers, but quickly switched back to All Blacks mode and was outstanding against Scotland, first on the wing, and then at first five-eighths. He performed another important role when coming into first-five off the bench for the final quarter against Wales. He looks physically and mentally sharp and has seen his stocks rise rapidly on this tour.
Colin Slade and Richie McCaw celebrate the All Blacks' win over Wales. Photo / Getty Images
Who advanced their cause?
See above. Slade's ability to step up when required, along with his versatility, means he is a shoo-in for the World Cup squad, providing he remains injury free. Dane Coles went up another level, although must keep a closer rein on his temper. Charlie Faumuina was good, as was Charles Piutau. Jeremy Thrush and Patrick Tuipulotu made the most of their chances in the second row. Aaron Smith proved again why he is the nation's best halfback.
Were there any notable failures?
Dominic Bird struggled against Scotland in what was his big chance to impress. He might be squeezed out of the frame now, with the two incumbents, Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, way in front, plus Luke Romano, Thrush and Tuipulotu on their way up. TJ Perenara was another who had a bit of a muddled game at Murrayfield.
What, if any, concerns will coach Steve Hansen have about next year?
Slow starts. It happened in all three of the big tests on this Northern tour, and, while the All Blacks have proven time and again that they can finish strongly, they need not make it so hard for themselves. It was the same on last year's Northern tour, where all of the tests were in the balance until the final stages.
Good starts, which could provide a buffer zone in terms of points in the knockout stages of next year's World Cup, would make life more comfortable for the team and Hansen.
Where can this All Black side improve in 2015?
Apart from starting with more authority, I would like to see them more capable of shifting bodies at the breakdown to provide quick ball. Their ball was slowed brilliantly by England, Scotland and Wales and will be a blueprint for opposition teams next year.
The return of Ma'a Nonu will help with their structure on attack. Sonny Bill Williams is a brilliant talent, but under pressure against Wales he dropped too much ball. Maybe his search for the perfect offload can be a hindrance at times.
