It may have been agony for Wayne Pivac and his Wales team, and indeed Gregor Townsend's Scotland, but what a thrilling sequence of summer Tests we have just witnessed.
At the end of some rugby rip-roaring clashes, just where do the leading teams really rank as the countdown well and truly begins towards next year's World Cup? The official world rankings have been published, with Ireland climbing to the top spot to knock France into second and Wales occupying eighth position.
We assess the world rugby power rankings as players from the Six Nations sides return home for a well-deserved break, while the southern hemisphere big guns have the Rugby Championship kicking off early next month. This is the current state of play as we see it:
Read more: South Africa falls in love with Dan Biggar after classy final gesture before leaving
1. France
It would be have been fascinating to see the Grand Slam winners - who are ranked second in the official table - meet one of the leading southern hemisphere nations. The last time they did, Les Bleus trounced New Zealand 40-25 during the autumn.
But they overcame Japan reasonably comfortably in two games, taking their winning run to 11 games. That included a Six Nations clean sweep, a 30-24 win over Ireland part of the run. Indeed, it is Pivac's Wales who have actually pushed the French closest during that run, losing by just four points at the Principality Stadium during the Six Nations.
With a power pack, the best pair of half-backs in Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, thrilling runners outside like Damian Penaud, Jonathan Danty and Gael Fickou, plus the Shaun Edwards influence on their defence and discipline, France are looking the team to beat.
The World Cup they host begins with what should be a thrilling clash between the French and traditional tournament powerhouses New Zealand in Paris on September 8, 2023. It should set the tone.
PS: France's club sides are pretty dominant, too.
2. Ireland
The Irish edge out South Africa in our power rankings by the tightest of margins after their stunning 2-1 series triumph over New Zealand. But it's nip and tuck, it could just as easily be the Springboks holding down this second spot.
Officially, the Irish are ranked number one by World Rugby but we have them in second spot in our list. They were hammered 42-19 in the opening game with the All Blacks, but bounced back to win the second Test 23-12 against 14-man opposition and saw the job through amid emotional scenes on Saturday with a 32-22 triumph in the decider.
Their next game is against South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which will tell us a lot about where those two powerhouses currently stand. Ireland's problem is that they flatter to deceive pre-World Cups, falter when it really matters and have some ageing players in their team.
Will it be different in 2023? Don't count on it, judging by history.
3. South Africa
Yes, they may have lost to Wales for the first time on home soil, but that was very much a Springboks second XV. When the big guns returned, they powered their way to victory in the deciding Cape Town Test, having just edged the first.
South Africa are... well, they're just South Africa, boasting an immense pack, best set-piece in the world, and the bomb squad which makes them even better in the second half of matches.
But they don't offer as much behind as France and Ireland, despite boasting world-class talents in Cheslin Kolbe, Willie Le Roux, Damian Willemse and perhaps the best centre pairing in the game. Faf De Klerk's reputation at scrum-half took a backwards step, too, with Wales handling him well.
South Africa won't divert from their physical game, but you just sense there could be more to come if they would open up a little.
4. England
This was a massive summer for Eddie Jones, who was under immense pressure amid scrutiny over his job. But he returns to England with his reputation enhanced, having seen the Red Rose bounce back from an embarrassing opening loss to a 14-man Australia team with victories in the following two games.
You sense with England there is a lot more to come. When fit, Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes, Kyle Sinckler, Ellis Genge and Jamie George will give them real oomph up front, Owen Farrell still helps tick things over, and two young superstars of the game have emerged in No. 10 Marcus Smith, who scored that dazzling winning try in Sydney when he displayed Jonathan Davies-type fly-half speed, and Henry Arundell, who has shone when handed his chance.
England, ranked fifth in the world by World Rugby, had a terrible Six Nations; they will get back on the front foot again ahead of the World Cup.
5. New Zealand
When have they been as low as this? Answer: never.
When they sank to fourth in the official World Rugby rankings after their second Test defeat to Ireland, it was the lowest they had ever ben ranked. We have them one spot lower again.
Make no mistake, the loss to the Irish, and indeed only one win in five matches, has put New Zealand rugby into full-blown crisis mode. The current class have been labelled the worst New Zealand team in history and key players like Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick and Sam Cane are in their thirties, albeit they will be fine for the next World Cup. The reputation of back-row blockbuster Ardie Savea has been enhanced, while winger Will Jordan has pace to burn, as Jonathan Sexton discovered to his cost.
But they next face South Africa in back-to-back games in the Rugby Championship. Further losses, which are entirely possible, will pile the pressure further on head coach Ian Foster and the players. New Zealand rugby are not accustomed to this sort of thing. It spells troubled times.
6. Australia
The Wallabies are actually in a worse run of form than New Zealand. Beating England in the first game in Perth was their only victory in the last six games. During that time they have lost three times to Eddie Jones' men and also to Wales and Scotland.
Australia are certainly nothing like the force of old and will be looking for an upturn in fortunes when the Rugby Championship kicks off.
Michael Hooper is still the kingpin in the pack, and with Samu Kerevi around they will always have hope behind. But there is quite a large gap between the top teams and the rest as things stand.
7. Wales
Well, after the shambles of that Six Nations defeat to Italy in Cardiff, the only way was up for Wayne Pivac's team this summer - facing the world champions or not.
They were hugely competitive again, became the first Wales side to win a Test against the Springboks on South African soil, but in the end just found Springbok power too much of a force in the decisive Cape Town Test.
Former Wales skipper Gwyn Jones feels this team have embodied their captain Dan Biggar on the summer tour - they have been full of passion and commitment - but Gwyn has also questioned Wales' lack of creativity, ability to score tries and says their games versus the Springboks have been "in slow motion" compared to the other summer Tests.
Wales possess potent threats behind, with Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams, Liam Williams and George North, who had his best game of the tour in Cape Town. Moving forward, can they utilise that threat more regularly?
Tommy Reffell has been a huge find, but when fit Justin Tipuric is too good a player not to return to the XV. There remains an embarrassment of back-row riches.
As they get closer to the World Cup, can Wales stand up to the type of power the Springboks pack unleashed in the series decider and can they create even more threat of their own with that gifted back line?
Wales should get through their group, and could even top it with Australia, Fiji and Georgia also in the pool. Then it would be one of England or Argentina in the quarter-finals. There have been tougher routes for Wales down the years.
8. Argentina
Los Pumas, officially ranked ninth in the world, just edge out Scotland courtesy of winning the decisive Test, but it's hard to see how they will make a mark on the World Cup.
In the same group as England, the game between the Pumas and Japan will be key to determining who joins Eddie Jones' men in the knockout stages.
9. Scotland
Now ranked seventh in the world, Scotland lost in Argentina but they were without their kingpins Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg and with those two in tow they would have strongly fancied their chances of beating the Pumas.
Under Gregor Townsend the Scots are capable of upsetting anyone on their day, but they're not going to win the World Cup, are they?
Indeed, given South Africa and Ireland are in their World Cup group, it's hard at the moment to see just how the Scots progress, even with a magician like Russell and a flyer like Hogg in their ranks.
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