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PERFECTION came 84 seconds after the final bell, long after all but those in black thought it was possible to conjure victory at Lansdowne Road against an inspired Irish team.
New Zealand had conquered every opponent this year, winning all 13 previous Tests. But when it was time to complete the 2013 sweep, to become the first international side of the professional era to go through an entire year unbeaten, they got stage fright.
The men in green turned Hulk, it was they who played the game like invincibles.
After 20 minutes they led 19-0, after 64 minutes they led 22-10, and after 81 minutes they led 22-17.
After 108 long years, Ireland had their first win over the All Blacks in the bag.
But what transpired next broke the hearts and backs of Irish support, and confirmed that this All Blacks team went undefeated this year because they didn't know how to lose.
They didn't realise that the effort was futile when they received a turnover penalty 10 metres from inside their own half with the final bell already rung.
They could not comprehend that after winning 26 of 27 previous Tests against Ireland and drawing the other, it was finally time for the cruel streak to be broken.
New Zealand could not accept that after running the ball from left to right, end to end all night and being thumped by Ireland's raging tacklers, it was pointless to try again post-siren from deep inside their own half.
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And so they went, left to right, end to end, with locks charging up the middle, centres clearing out rucks, playmakers shifting the ball, flankers running dummy lines.
They didn't drop the ball. They didn't drop their heads.
And after testing Ireland's defence at every turn the split-second opportunity came.
Who else but replacement hooker Dane Coles would be required to draw the last defender and pop a deft pass in contact to replacement back Ryan Crotty. The No.16 and the No.23 finished the magnificent play to remind all why their side is No.1.
After 81 minutes and 24 seconds, New Zealand were level, the first time in the entire game they had not trailed.
And only then did the drama start. Five-eighth Aaron Cruden missed his conversion attempt from the sideline, but a handful of Ireland players had jumped the gun to chase the kick down.
Referee Nigel Owen ordered them back, and allowed Cruden to take another attempt. Of course he nailed it - 24-22 the final score in a game history won't soon forget.
"It comes down to belief," All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said. "When I was a young player, I was in a provincial game and we were down by a similar 29 to very little. I thought the game was over and the captain said: 'Believe'.
"We got home and forever since then I've never, ever given up.
"I've always been proud of All Blacks teams, you never give up and never stop believing there's a chance. We had 15 guys out there still believing right to the last minute and it's amazing what can happen."
The first professional perfect Test season followed New Zealand's 12 wins from 13 wins last year.
It was another reminder of the gulf between them and the chasing pack.
The Wallabies are only on the cusp of rebuilding, having won three in a row now.
Against Wales this weekend Australia will aim to win four Tests in a row for the first time in five years.
New Zealand will start next year with history in their sights. Incredibly, the world record for most successive wins is ongoing and held by Cyprus.
While their second- and third-tier opponents give an unnatural context to the record, the All Blacks will nevertheless be aiming to add another three to their streak of 14 when the fast-improving England side visits them mid-next year.
Of top tier nations, New Zealand and South Africa jointly share the record of most successive wins with 17.
If the All Blacks win all the Tests against England, their chance to top that record will likely come against the Wallabies in a Bledisloe Cup showdown.
In the aftermath of his side's crushing defeat on Sunday, Ireland's Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt said: "You've got to be prepared to defend until the final seconds and we didn't.
"We have to live with that now."
There is always a price for perfection.
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