Zac Guildford wore the badge of honour for a back, a black eye, the result of Welsh hooker Matthew Rees falling on him in a tackle during Saturday's 29-10 win for the All Blacks at Hamilton's Waikato Stadium.
Guildford, who was having his first start of the three-Test series, had a game of mixed opportunities with frenetic periods when he could run with the ball and long periods when he couldn't get anywhere near it.
While finding it hard to get a chance, he used the opportunity provided in Hamilton as his motivation to get out there and take it while he could. However, in the short term, it was not enough for him to impress the selectors when naming their Tri Nations squad.
Guildford had enjoyed a meteoric rise to All Blacks status and had to go away and think about that and to force his way back into selection, coach Graham Henry inferred at Sunday's announcement.
But with the strength of New Zealand three-quarter play, and Sitiveni Sivivatu and Isaia Toeava are both still injured, the pressure is on for places in the side.
For the moment, however, Guildford was happy for his chance to get into the action on Saturday.
"They brought up a good line and really defended well," he said of the improved Welsh effort from that of the first Test in Dunedin.
"At times we could have held the ball a bit longer and built up some pressure but a few handling errors let us down," he said.
There had been some indecision in passing as well and some holding onto the ball when it might have been better to move it.
"There was a couple of times I thought I was going to cross but I still chasing that elusive first Test try, hopefully I'll get another shot to get one soon because I am dying to get one," he said.
It was frustrating not scoring because he said he loved scoring tries and three and a half Tests was more than he wanted to wait.
"Next time I get a Test I'm going to be extra hungry for one," he said.
The side was feeling good after the series and it was a case of building momentum going into the Tri Series, he said. But for the moment he will have to watch from the sideline.