New Zealander Tony Brown's arrival as attack coach in 2024 pointed to South Africa's ambition to dominate in all facets of the game.
The former Highlanders head coach, who will join the All Blacks in 2028, is known for creating a cohesive attacking shape built on sharp ball movement.
But having been outscored in terms of tries over the first two Tests, the Springboks flipped their pack-power trump card - pivotal to their back-to-back World Cup successes - to prevent a repeat of New Zealand's victorious 1996 series win in South Africa.
Nothing illustrated that more than a monster maul that started just inside New Zealand's 22 and ended with Malcolm Marx peeling off to score the decisive try under the posts.
That came after a penalty try from a scrum in the first half. In Baltimore, their power again proved too much.
"South Africa have tried to play expansively a couple of times when we have dominance after hurting teams in the maul or scrum," Schalk Brits, a 2019 World Cup winner, told BBC Sport.
"New Zealand didn't have that dominance in the forwards, but people said they played beautiful rugby. I don't care if it is beautiful or not.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I love a maul and scrum."
Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who was injured at the end of May, returned to start all four Tests. He was initially named on the bench for the second match, only for Handre Pollard to withdraw.
Despite improving as the series went on, the 24-year-old lacked his usual flashes of individual brilliance.
It remains to be seen whether South Africa turn back to 32-year-old Pollard, as they did in 2023, on the biggest occasions to close out games.
Rassie Erasmus' experienced back-to-back World Cup winners - Marx (32), Eben Etzebeth (34), Pieter-Steph du Toit (34), Siya Kolisi (35), Damian de Allende (34), Cheslin Kolbe (32) - all remain regular starters.
The world champions have proven they can also play an exciting brand of attacking rugby, but appeasing the masses will not matter if a familiar formula can bring them three straight World Cups.
Scott Robertson's dismissal in January after two years as head coach sunk New Zealand to a new low.
Rennie, not the flashiest appointment, had to hit the ground running, and a stunning Test win over South Africa at Ellis Park was a case of doing just that.
The 33-16 victory injected jeopardy into a series which many had the Springboks winning comfortably, given their home advantage and recent dominance.
Hurricanes half-backs Cam Roigard and Ruben Love, both aged 25, were trusted by Rennie to instil a return to the All Blacks way - the ability to score from transition from anywhere on the field and compound scoreboard pressure.
Four or more tries in each Test in South Africa showed just that, with the third Test all square at half-time.
"Scott Robertson was a good culture coach but maybe not a brilliant technical coach. Dave Rennie is a brilliant technical coach," former England wing Ugo Monye told Rugby Union Weekly.
"After the Nations Championship, you could see the structures and how they want to play. I think the All Blacks' backline is the most skilled in World Rugby."
Love struggled to have the same commanding impact in Tests two and three, with fly-half Richie Mo'unga returning for the Baltimore game, his first Test since the World Cup final.
The 32-year-old Mo'unga, who is back after a stint in Japan, was not at the standard that made him one of the best fly-halves at the 2023 World Cup.
However, getting him back up to speed will be an All Blacks goal over the next 12 months.
Former England scrum-half Danny Care said: "Imagine what New Zealand would do with a platform and some dominance. It is great for the game that they are coming back to be the All Blacks of old, and the next 12 months will be fascinating."
South Africa live for must-win games. That is when, according to Brits, the Boks "come alive".
Defeat at Ellis Park cost them their world number one status - which was quickly regained - but also exposed a vulnerability.
South Africa, who lost matches in the pool stages of the past two World Cups, are currently the favourites to win next year's tournament in Australia, bringing a pressure they have not experienced previously.
"We hate being the favourite, we almost have to have our backs against the wall," Brits said.
"We prefer not to have the eyes on us and move under the radar. I think that is the best way for any team."
Back-to-back Six Nations champions France sent a weakened side to Christchurch in July and lost 34-32 to New Zealand.
When matched against the Springboks last November, France were beaten emphatically, 32-17.
Brits believes France are "the most settled" and offer tactical flexibility similar to that of the world champions.
"I feel like South Africa have an advantage as they can play multiple styles, and it feels like most other nations don't have that capability," Brits said.
"The only team that can play multiple styles is France, as they can grind it out with the forwards, play the kicking game and the expansive game as well."
He added that England still need to become what they are "supposed to be" and to keep an eye on Ireland, who are travelling "under the radar" after peaking in previous World Cup cycles prior to the tournament.
"Ireland still have amazing rugby players and coaches – the best coaches out there - and a top-four squad," Brits added. "Be careful of Ireland."
Extracted and lightly reformatted for readability. · Source: pt