The final mountain ultimately resembled a molehill as the All Blacks finished Graham Henry's season of rugby redemption on a high, overwhelming England 32-6 at Twickenham.

Victory added a grand slam and the coveted Hillary Shield to their Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations silverware collection for 2008.

Another clinical second-half display enabled the All Blacks to whitewash the home unions and Ireland for just the third time in 103 years - a 20-point burst in the final 23 minutes heaping more misery on dejected new England manager Martin Johnson.

Henry, in contrast, was a picture of contentment shortly after captain Richie McCaw accepted the Hillary Shield from Sir Edmund's widow Lady June.

The All Blacks' emphatic victory was their 13th of the season and allowed Henry to preside over a grand slam-winning side for a second time.

A 26-point margin also represented New Zealand's biggest at Twickenham and their seventh consecutive triumph since Johnson captained England to victory at Wellington in 2003.

Given the ructions Henry's retention as head coach caused earlier this year, he was relieved to end 2008 with all the available silverware.

"If someone said we'd win 13 out of 15 Test matches in June I'd have grabbed it," he admitted.

"Richie's leadership and the leaders with him, the younger guys, they have all pulled together and produced something special."

Henry was reluctant to compare his current side's achievements over the past five weeks with his 2005 vintage.

"They left a legacy here and this side's done the same. It's very difficult to compare," he said.

But he did marvel at his remodelled squad's ability to win five consecutive Tests, starting with Australia in Hong Kong on November 1.

"I wondered whether that would be possible, to have an unbeaten tour with five Test matches on end," he said.

"It just shows you the backbone of the team - it's been happening all year."

The All Blacks used a similar template to subdue an English side hell bent on pushing and then exceeding the boundaries, especially at the breakdown.

Exasperated Irish referee Alain Rolland eventually yellow-carded four English players during the course of his running battle with captain Steve Borthwick and halfback Danny Care.

Hooker Lee Mears and replacement flanker Tom Rees were sinbinned for ruck infringements in the 24th and 76th minutes while erratic five-eighth Toby Flood (high tackle) and James Haskell (shoulder charge) also left England short-staffed either side of halftime.

Flood's departure in the 43rd minute for a coathanger on Jimmy Cowan was a demoralising blow for England, considering No.8 Nick Easter had looked certain to score with the opening movement of the second half.

He was surging to the line when ankle-tapped by fullback Mils Muliaina.

The All Blacks defence scrambled, withstood two minutes of forward drives and when Cowan hared downfield off turnover ball England's fragile discipline was exposed again.

Trailing 12-3 at halftime, England would have gained momentum had Easter kept his balance for another five metres.

"It looked a try for all money at one stage," Henry admitted.

"It just epitomised the character of the guys and their willingness to dig deep, work hard and never give up."

England joined Scotland, Ireland and Wales in being unable to score a try against the All Blacks.

And once Easter had been thwarted, the All Blacks inevitably cleared out with two tries from Muliaina and a 50m break out by man of the match Ma'a Nonu.

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