This latest loss - 52-26, the 34th in a row won by New Zealand - was definitely in the former category, but it was still a contest that was all over, done and dusted, by the hour mark.
That was when the Kiwis scored their fifth try through replacement Sevu Reece, making it very much par for the course for the tourists.
In the 34 Tests between the countries since the last Wales victory in 1953, five tries is the average number scored by the All Blacks.
The final result was not as bad as many had feared but New Zealand still scored seven tries and had two more ruled out by TMO decisions.
Wales coach Steve Tandy can take much credit for his own team’s performance, however, which was a big step up from their dreadful display in the one-point win over Japan.
There were three tries for Scarlets wing Tom Rogers, who did what no other Welsh player had done before him by scoring a hat-trick of tries against New Zealand.
And there was a record equalling fourth try for the team from his wing partner Louis Rees-Zammit at the death – only the second time Wales had scored four tries against the All Blacks and the first time in Cardiff.
For an hour, Wales showed they can attack with purpose, be consistent in their set-piece game, and contest balls in the air - all fundamentals they appeared incapable of in their two other games this month.
For Tandy - who is trying to build a team while the Welsh Rugby Union wilfully try to smash the domestic game to pieces, like a toddler in a tantrum - this was a game he can pint to for those who doubt his pedigree.
As well as improving those previous weaknesses, he had done his homework on New Zealand and identified their recent vulnerabilities.
But Wales were well beaten by the end, unable to match the All Blacks’ relentless pace and precision.
Unlike their hosts, they have an ability to operate at levels they can sustain for 80 minutes, rather than 50 or 60.
The crowd rolled back the years before kick-off to pay tribute to the first game between the two teams in 1905 when the Welsh national anthem was sung for the first time pre-match.
Back then it was the players who started the singing before the fans joined in.
This time, the 68,000 crowd raised the roof at the Principality Stadium with a spine-tingling national anthem without the accompaniment of the band as they gave their team a final boost before facing the Haka.
New Zealand got into their stride early on and powerhouse wing Caleb Clarke knocked over two tacklers on his way to a fifth minute try to opening the scoring. Damian McKenzie added the extras.
But Wales weren’t intimidated by that early blow and hit back with a touch of class.
Louis Rees-Zammit reclaimed a Tomos Williams box kick and set up a ruck that allowed Wales to spread the ball wide.
The move ended with Dan Edwards passing out the back to Rogers to allow him to score his frist try. Edwards added the conversion and it was all square after 10 minutes.
McKenzie then kicked a penalty and converted a second try from full back Ruben Love on the half-hour mark. But once again Wales were quick to respond.
This time it was Dafydd Jenkins who picked up the pieces and drove into the New Zealand 22. With a penalty coming, Williams cleverly grubber kicked the ball behind the defenders and Balir Murray pounced to regather.
The ruck ball was recycled quickly and Edwards threw a long pass that enabled Max Llewellyn to send Rogers over again.
The conversion made it a three point game before the All Blacks’ prop Tamati Williams drove over from a close range line out and McKenzie’s latest conversion made it 24-14 to the visitors at the break.
Having matched the Welsh record set by Geoff Rees-Jones in scoring two tries against the All Blacks in the 13-12 win in 1935, Rogers went one better two minutes after the re-start as he ran in his hat-trick score.
A brilliant cut out pass in midfield by Joe Hawkins created the space for Llewellyn to send Rogers clear in the 22. A nice side step took him past Love as the last defender and over for a try that Edwards once again improved to make it a three point game at 24-21.
But that was as good as it got for Wales until the dying embers as they found themselves under relentless pressure for the rest of the second half. Yellow cards to replacement prop Gareth Thomas in the 58th and Taine Plumtree in the 67th minutes didn’t help the home cause and New Zealand became more and more ruthless.
Despite having two tries ruled out by the TMO they grabbed fourth in the 51st minute through Rieko Ioane and then two more through replacement wing Sevu Reece.
McKenzie kept on hitting the target off the tee – he ended with 17 points from seven conversions and a penalty – but Wales had a final hurrah when Rees-Zammit somehow scored in the right corner with a typically acrobatic dive.
Even so, the All Blacks had the final word when Clarke raced through some weak tackling to have the final word.
