In 1956, an All Black flanker told the nation he was "absolutely buggered". Last night, an All Black flanker said he was "absolutely shagged".
Half a century after Peter Jones uttered his immortal line after a test against the Springboks, All Black captain Richie McCaw added his own famous description as he staggered off Eden Park.
McCaw, the warrior openside, became just the second All Black captain to hoist the World Cup, 24 years after David Kirk was the first.
"It is hard to describe. I'm absolutely shagged," he told Sky Sport immediately after the 8-7 win over France.
"The courage and what the guys put in out there ... we just had to dig as deep as we probably have ever dug before.
"It is hard to really let it sink in but I'm just so proud of every single one of the guys. We could not have been under more pressure there at times and we stuck tight and stuck to our guns and we got there in the end."
World Cup tournaments have delivered nothing but heartache to the All Blacks since that inaugural victory in 1987.
McCaw, also the captain four years ago when the All Blacks' campaign ended in defeat by the French at the quarterfinal stage, was relieved to get the monkey off his back.
"I think, at some stage, someone was going to do it. This group of 30 had the opportunity this year.
"You have to be warriors to win this. You have to keep getting up and keep getting up and when things come at you, you have to keep getting up and believing in the mate beside you and trusting him to do his job and making sure you do yours.
"No-one can ever take this away from this group and from this bunch of men. They are tough men and they have left it all out here tonight. I think the whole country should be proud of every single one of them."
McCaw praised first five Stephen Donald, who had to play a major role in the final when Aaron Cruden went off injured. Donald was the fourth-choice first five, following the withdrawals of Dan Carter and Colin Slade earlier in the tournament.
"You lose a guy like DC [Carter], it would be easy to drop your lip, but the next guy stood up and then the next guy and old Beaver [Donald] at the end. He was composed and I take my hat off to the guy."
Graham Henry had his critics four years ago but has now joined Sir Brian Lochore in the exclusive club of World Cup-winning All Black coaches.
"Look back over the last six or seven weeks at what these people have done; they've been quite outstanding," Henry said.
"For Richie and the boys to hang in there for 80 minutes and win this thing, was quite superb. It's something we've dreamed of for a while. We can rest in peace now."
French captain Thierry Dusautoir was disappointed at the result but proud of the effort from a side some claimed was lucky to be in the final.
"I'm very proud of my boys for what they did during the World Cup. We lost two games in the pool and came to the final, so I'm really proud of them.
"It is good for New Zealand. It is good for the country, but sorry ... I am really disappointed."
