What happens to the members of this South African team now?

Thank goodness that's over.

No one in the South African camp actually said those words but they would have all been feeling that as their two-Test tour of New Zealand ended largely as expected. They lost.

A makeshift South African team, with eight uncapped players in their touring group including the captain, were always considered no match for a New Zealand side unbeaten in home series since 2017 when they were defeated by… South Africa. That South African team would go on to beat Australia at home for the first time since readmission. This one may never play together again. But these players carry with them one of the game's biggest what-ifs, after threatening to pull off an upset for the ages when they took a lead against New Zealand and floated the possibility they could keep their record of never losing a Test series to New Zealand intact.

"I am very disappointed right now," Neil Brand, South Africa's stand-in captain, said afterwards. "Yesterday after tea we were in an amazing position to push the game forward and we had a big batting collapse which cost us greatly. If we batted up until lunch today, the result might have been different."

It's the shards of hope that cut the deepest, as Brand's words suggest. South Africa were completely outplayed in the first Test and lost by 281 runs. They were adequate without being exceptional in the first innings of the second Test and scored 242. But then they dragged themselves back into contention by bowling New Zealand out for 211 and sitting in a strong position on 202 for 4. Even, the collapse - 6 for 33 - left them with a lead of 266 and they had New Zealand 53 for 2. Up to that point, the flames of possibility were being fanned. Then Kane Williamson put them out and it was back to reality.

"When the No.1 ranked batter in the world plays the way he does, I don't think we can be too disappointed on the outcome of the match," Shukri Conrad, South Africa's Test coach said. "We were always going to be up against it. The only time you are allowed to lose is when the opposition are better than you and they certainly were better than us."

So fair play to New Zealand but what happens to the members of this South African side now?

To start with, they will allow themselves a moment of reflection and maybe a little celebration because, after the first Test defeat, they fought back and did not disgrace themselves. "It speaks volumes for the character of the side," Conrad said. "We only need to look at some of the more experienced guys: the way Dane Paterson still ran in with that second new ball. And Dane Piedt - the competitive edge he has got and how he performed. On the playing field we knew it was going to be tough and it was everything and more. The manner in which the guys have stuck together and wanted to put up a good showing and almost pull off the impossible today. We were in with a shout and can't fault them for trying and giving their absolute best."

Paterson will go back to playing domestic cricket at Western Province and on the county circuit for Nottinghamshire. Piedt will return to North Carolina and his life on the American League circuit. Neither are likely to play a Test again. The same can be said for 37-year-old legspinner Shaun von Berg, wicketkeeper-batter Clyde Fortuin and probably also Tshepo Moreki and Duanne Olivier. And what of the others?

Before the series, Brand put his hand up as a candidate to replace the retired Dean Elgar. Though he showed glimpses of his potential, he did not put in any performances that suggested he could step up immediately and his leadership was, at times, puzzling. His decision not to bowl himself in Hamilton after taking eight wickets in the first Test was a mystery even to Conrad, who called it "somewhat surprising". It would seem he hasn't made a strong enough case though the man himself hopes he will be looked at in future. "It has been an amazing experience. Definitely something I want to be part of in the future," he said. "And now we know it is possible to play at this level."

He may end up competing with Edward Moore, who scored 23 in the first Test, for a squad place in future but its likely South Africa will look to Tony de Zorzi to open the batting. Another candidate is Raynard van Tonder, who was once seen as a real possibility for the national side after especially after topping the first-class run charts in the 2019-20 season, but was disappointing in this series. On debut, amongst many others, he can't be blamed for his nerves and, at 25, there's time for him to find a way back.

Zubayr Hamza and Keegan Petersen will be the most despondent because this was their chance to stake a place in the first-choice Test side and they didn't. Hamza did well in occupying the crease but scored too slowly and Petersen did not capitalise on his starts. Ruan de Swardt gave a better account of himself than both of them with a fighting first-innings 64 in the second Test but it's difficult to see how South Africa will find a place for him in their first XI.

It is only David Bedingham, whose century created the opportunity to unsettle New Zealand, who can be sure he will go on to play Tests in the near future. "He showed glimpses against India but on this tour he showed he is a cut above, certainly of the group we've got here," Conrad said. "Hopefully he has a long, distinguished, successful Test career for the Proteas."

That might be the only measurable gain South Africa makes from this tour but they also walk away with something that can't be quantified: their pride. They leave with it intact. "That we could come out and push one of the top ranked sides in the world and give them some nervy moments was a good advertisement for us and for Test cricket," Conrad said.

There will be those that argue that failing to reschedule these Tests and being forced to send this squad was the complete opposite of a good advert for Test cricket, and they have a point. But the necessity of the SA20 to South African cricket has been well-documented, as have the efforts CSA made to ask NZC to move this series. It was NZC's right not to and the board acted on it. In the end, in the grand tradition of South African-ness, South Africa had to "make a plan" and they did. And the plan almost worked. That it didn't is what will likely have them feeling glad that it's all over and hopeful they will not be put in a situation like this again.