The northern hemisphere's leading rugby writers have virtually conceded the All Blacks the Grand Slam, suggesting England have no chance against the New Zealand juggernaut.
Even notorious Kiwi baiter Stephen Jones wrote England face a challenge not to avoid a record loss at Twickenham next Sunday morning.
The British writers lauded the improving All Blacks, agreeing they are unchallenged as the world's current best team.
"On the day that one of their rugby teams proved that New Zealand are indeed capable of winning a World Cup, their other, more renowned side restated their credentials as the best in the world," wrote James Corrigan in The Independent , linking the 29-9 win to New Zealand's upset rugby league win.
"Wales' attempt to beat the All Blacks for the first time in 55 years was brave for a while, but they must be thoroughly sick of hearing that.
"As it was Wales were still in touch at the hour, but instead of crumbling under the pressure - as they did here in their infamous World Cup defeat by France a year ago - New Zealand came on strong. A fantastic atmosphere, filled with the sense of 'I was there', was suddenly muted. The red-shirts had arrived in such hope but they left with their inferiority complex deepened. When it is time to lock horns with their nemesis again next year it will be 20 tests without a victory. And make that 56 years."
Jones echoed those thoughts in the Sunday Times as England absorbed the lessons of a record 42-9 loss to South Africa .
"When these autumn internationals started we may have felt that today would be the day when we were suggesting ways in which England could beat New Zealand. Where are we now? We are trying to find one area of the pitch, even a tiny area, where England can possibly match the flying All Blacks.
"One thing is for certain. If New Zealand play with such verve and pace and so relentlessly as they did in Cardiff, and if England are as big a shambles as they were against South Africa yesterday, then the new record set for a margin of English defeat at Twickenham will last one week."
The Sunday Telegraph and the Observer were equally pessimistic.
"Only a shell-shocked England wait now and the stark truth is that the All Blacks have yet to engage top gear on the European leg of the tour thus far. They are a class apart this autumn," wrote the Telegraph's reporter.
Meanwhile, Eddie Butler in the Observer wrote: "It was close for a half, which might turn out to be as good as it gets for the sides who face the All Blacks on their Grand Slam tour. Close for 40 minutes, but then New Zealand put aside fragility and sent for muscle."
The Independent also noted the stirring start to the match when Wales stared down the All Blacks haka.
"For two minutes they stood there, like 44 statues, until the referee, Jonathan Kaplan, intervened. He instructed the captains to get ready to start but Ryan Jones told him his boys would not be moving until the All Blacks moved. Remarkably, Richie McCaw blinked first and New Zealand retreated. It was a direction they were to become familiar with for the first half, but certainly not thereafter," said the paper.
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