OPINION: With the Bledisloe Cup safely tucked away for another year, the All Blacks have been ambushed by a fired-up Wallabies side at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium
New coach Ian Foster used the dead-rubber fourth test to blood a few newcomers and develop squad depth with different combinations.
How did those rookies do? How did the changes work out?
Ultimately, referee Nic Berry had a huge influence on the result, punishing any indiscipline from both sides.
Here's how the All Blacks players rated...
1-Karl Tu'inukuafe 5
Snuffed out a promising All Blacks attack with incorrect entry at the breakdown and got buried in the tight amid the flurry of cards. Still doubts over his one-dimensional skillset.
2-Codie Taylor 7
Scored a try and almost had another. Ranged wide on attack until the cards came and stole a pass to thwart an Aussie raid.
Lost a key lineout on the Wallabies line at halftime, which must go down as a lost opportunity.
3-Ofa Tuungafasi 2
Made a couple of powerful carries, but blotted his record with a dropped ball that snuffed out a promising attack - and then, of course, the red card in the 23rd minute that could easily have cost his team the match.
Despite the quibbling of commentators over contact areas and lowering body positions, the onus is on tacklers to show more discipline, so Tuungafasi pays the price for his lack thereof.
4-Scott Barrett 5
His stupid yellow card in the 67th minute left the All Blacks a man short and ultimately cost them victory, as the Aussies capitalised to retake the lead for good.
That's a shame, because he was industrious throughout - in the end, maybe over-industrious to a fault - effecting an early tackle/turnover on Michael Hooper, providing an early lineout target and roaming prominently in the loose.
5-Sam Whitelock 6
Not the standout of seven days earlier, but a typical shoulder-to-the-grindstone display from the veteran.
Stole a key breakdown turnover to halt an Aussie attack and won the lineout that led to Taylor's try, but also threw a forward pass that ended an All Blacks chance.
6-Akira Ioane 7
Had his test debut cruelly cut short through no fault of his own, when Tuungafasi was sent off and the All Blacks needed a replacement prop at scrumtime.
Did nothing wrong in his half hour onfield, running powerfully, making a crucial one-handed tackle on winger Marika Koroibete and even stealing an Aussie lineout throw. This taste should keep his appetite whetted for his next opportunity.
7-Sam Cane 7
Hard to ever give the skipper anything less for his full commitment at the breakdown. Stole the ball off an Australia scrum and had another key turnover before he was subbed off near the end.
Topped the All Blacks tackle count with 13, with eight hit-ups.
8-Ardie Savea 9
Got better as the match wore on, making big metres after the tackle with his charging runs and troubling the Wallabies at lineout time.
Lead his team in tackles (with Cane) and hit-ups (11), splitting the Aussie defence early in the second half with a break that deserved a better finish. Nicked a turnover that almost put Sevu Reece over and also contributed to Tupou Vaa'i's try down the stretch.
9-TJ Perenara 5
Put Savea into space early in the second half, but never really influenced the game before leaving in the 77th minute.
10-Beauden Barrett 5
Combined with brother Jordie in the build-up in Rieko Ioane's first-half try, but was rarely sighted with ball in hand and missed three tackles.
Seems a step off his game and has clearly dropped behind Richie Mo'unga in the pecking order at first-five.
11-Rieko Ioane 5
His midfield aspirations seem to be on hold, with a start on the wing. Scored an early try to get the All Blacks back in the contest, but spilled a high ball and threw a forward pass to TJ Perenara that saw a late foray called back.
Did move to centre late as Foster employed his bench and fell off a tackle as Taniela Tupou broke NZ hearts.
12-Ngani Laumape 5
Assisted on Ioane's try - albeit off a Wallabies deflection - but rarely had an opening to show his power in the midfield and was eventually replaced with 15 minutes left.
13-Anton Lienert-Brown 5
Another that appeared out of sorts amid the mayhem. Put an early hit on Koroibete, but later missed one on Jordan Petaia and gave away a costly offside penalty, before he left in the 70th minute.
14-Sevu Reece 6
Led his side in running metres (62), but mixed the sublime with the insane.
Almost scored in the corner, but threw an ill-advised quick lineout over Jordie Barrett's head that had the All Blacks scrambling on defence.
15-Jordie Barrett 5
Back in his preferred position, Barrett was another with an erratic performance in the All Blacks backline. Couldn't cover the wicked bounce that led to Australia's opening try, but delivered an offload in the build-up to Ioane's try, which he then - crucially - couldn't convert, hitting the upright.
Conceded three turnovers, spilling a high kick in the second half and losing the ball in a tackle to finally end his team's hopes of a comeback.
16-Asafo Aumua NA
Had little to do in a cameo appearance for his test debut.
17-Alex Hodgman 5
Was part of a scrum that struggled, after he replaced Tu'inukuafe in the 51st minute, and was overmatched against Tupou.
18-Tyrel Lomax 5
Came on as a red-card replacement for Tuungafasi in the 30th minute and played much longer than planned. Stole the ball early, but also threw a crazy pass to no-one that had the All Blacks defence back-pedalling.
19-Tupou Vaa'i 6
Whistled up as a late replacement for ill Patrick Tuipulotu and only played a few minutes, but scored a try that gave his team a sniff at the end.
20-Cullen Grace NA
Another who got only a few moments on debut.
21-Brad Weber 5
Put Vaa'i over for his try, but had little else to do.
22-Damian McKenzie NA
23-Will Jordan 5
Given 15 minutes on debut, but appeared to suffer a head knock while missing a tackle on Koroibete and was never given a chance with ball in hand.
Grant Chapman is Newshub online sports editor. Join us next Saturday for live updates of the All Blacks v Argentina Tri Nations clash.
