Crisis averted. The All Blacks have avoided the dreaded sweep as they hit back to claim the second rugby test against France with a much-improved effort in the Wellington wet.
But, still, there was nothing in it as the New Zealanders prevailed 14-10 on a miserable Saturday night in the capital, the French producing another spirited display to claim the Dave Gallaher Trophy for the first time courtesy of points differential.
It was a night where the All Blacks had to respond after a lacklustre showing in the opening Iveco Series test in Dunedin (won 27-22 by the French), and they managed to show a lot more in some of the key effort areas to make most of the running in this match.
Certainly the New Zealanders' work in the tackle ball area was a million miles from where they were in Dunedin, the rearranged All Blacks loose trio meeting their challenge with a much more committed and accurate display. This was more like it.
In fact the All Black forwards all round were far superior to seven days earlier, and they very much laid the foundation for this hard-earned victory, one try apiece, on a night when the rain never stopped falling at the Cake Tin. Hooker Keven Mealamu had one of his best matches in recent years, his powerful legs pumping all night to get his side going forward.
The All Blacks owned the breakdown, were once again solid in the lineout and even their much-maligned scrum seemed to steady as the match progressed. Kieran Read made a good fist of a tough night at No 8, while rookie Tanerau Latimer showed his expertise at the tackle. Jerome Kaino's physical presence was also much-needed.
Rookie Isaac Ross had another promising night in the second row and again ran the lineout expertly, while his partner Brad Thorn revelled in the rough stuff.
The All Blacks dominated the opening 40 minutes with a much-improved effort in the energy and effort stakes, though an 8-0 lead was probably not a fair indication of the dominance the home side had in terms of possession and territory.
There was still plenty of scratchy stuff from Graham Henry's men, particularly with their handling in the tricky conditions, and some of their decision-making as they built pressure. But after last week's shocking start, this was a major step in the right direction.
The New Zealanders were notably more switched on at the breakdown this week, forcing four turnovers in the opening 40 and giving none away in a vastly improved effort from seven days earlier.
There was only one try scored in the opening half, Ma'a Nonu - who was much more prominent after a largely anonymous effort in Dunedin - crossing in the 26th minute, as the All Blacks finally put the full package together on attack.
Hooker Mealamu, who had a busy opening 40, sparked the attack, and when go-forward was established, Joe Rokocoko found himself in some space on the left. The French defence was equal to the All Black wing but when he popped a nice ball off the deck to Nonu, the powerful second five was able to cross for a crucial five-pointer.
The only other score from a pretty promising opening spell for the All Blacks came when Stephen Donald finally found his range at the fourth attempt to slot a penalty just a minute before the break.
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It wasn't a pretty first 40 from Donald who had one of those halves that rugby players have nightmares about. His kicking out of hand was terrible, shots for goal possibly worse and even his normally sure handling let him down badly. You could just see his confidence disappearing as the spell went on, the rain continuing to pelt down to further add to the degree of difficulty.
Still, there was plenty to be heartened about from an All Black perspective, and even the shaky scrum, which started badly, seemed to settle down as the half wore on. They were a bit unlucky, too, when Cory Jane was denied a try via a TMO decision immediately after Nonu's score.
It had been Mealamu again who had sparked the attack and when Donald popped a pass over to his wing after doubling round only desperation French defence meant there was no clear view of the ball being forced as Jane slid over in the right corner.
But if the All Blacks had any visions of coasting home in the second half, they disappeared just five minutes after the resumption when twinkle-toed French wing Cedric Heymans produced a scintillating score to get the visitors back to within a single point.
It was magical stuff from the Toulouse flyer as he danced down the left touchline, leaving Jane, Mils Muliaina and then Kieran Read in cover flapping in the air as the French found themselves well and truly back in this contest.
From then on it was knife-edge stuff.
A Donald penalty a quarter of an hour in got the All Blacks out by four, and when his replacement Luke McAlister added another three-pointer nine minutes later the margin was a handy seven.
But still the French weren't done. Dimitri Yachvelli nailed a penalty a quarter of an hour out to get the visitors back within striking distance, and 15 years after they'd last snatched a famous victory from behind in this country they were once again charged with pulling a rabbit from the hat.
It wasn't to be, conditions reducing the likelihood of a long-range response. In fact Rokocoko, who had a mixed night once again, should have made things safe three minutes from time, but couldn't grasp Piri Weepu's pinpoint kick-through.
However the All Blacks finished the match camped in French territory, and never looked like allowing their guests a sniff of yet another brilliant victory.
Nonu had a big game in the All Black backline, and was the standout figure on an awful night for the skill-merchants.
But really it was an evening, and a match, purely about the result. And as All Blacks coach Wayne Smith said afterwards, "we did just enough".
New Zealand 14 (Ma'a Nonu try; Stephen Donald 2 pen, Luke McAlister pen)
France 10 (Cedric Heymans try; Dimitri Yachvili pen, Julien Dupuy con).
Halftime: 8-0.
By Marc Hinton
