Or as England coach Eddie Jones put it in the build up, "We want to direct the movie, not just be in it."
For 60 minutes England were in the directors' chair, and but for a disallowed try at the end may well have pulled it off.
England were muscular, fired up, and clinical at times. The thunderous noise at Twickenham told you this was special. And they came so close.
But New Zealand showed the poise and patience that has made them double world champions to escape with a 16-15 victory under the leaden skies of southwest London.
With the World Cup less than a year away it was a significant result for both sides.
For New Zealand, a decent validation of its reputation as one of sport's most dominant winning machines, and proof perhaps that the recent defeat against South Africa was a blip.
For England, shorn of a raft of key players through injury, another step in the right direction following last week's win against South Africa in the wake of a disappointing year.
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