After silencing the doubters, the All Blacks went on to win the World Cup in emphatic fashion, their victory capping a great era for New Zealand rugby, ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire says.
What a difference a few weeks can make.
It was not that long ago that much of the country was in panic mode. Radio talkback and internet message boards were filled with people expressing their concerns about this All Black team.
Dropped balls, poor passes and a general lack of intensity seemed to have defined their pool matches.
Steve Hansen said they were holding back. Some believed him, others didn't.
But no one could fail to notice the tactical change which saw them destroy France and calm everyone's nerves. This team could still play we all realised. The deeper backline and the more direct approach up front allowed them to play without putting themselves under pressure and all of a sudden they looked deadly.
There was no shortage of storylines prior to the quarterfinal meeting with France at the Millennium Stadium. As it turned out 2007 was still in the forefront of many people's minds, despite the All Blacks having withstood a furious challenge in the final four years later. The French had not looked like threatening this time around, but then we had seen that so many times before.
But the ghosts were laid to rest as the All Blacks put on a clinic in one of their best displays of the modern era. They could do no wrong as they created space and offloaded at will, Julian Savea drawing Jonah Lomu comparisons in a rampant performance in which he scored three tries.
The job was not done, but the All Blacks were restored as favourites as an all-Rugby Championship final four ensued.
It was a different game altogether as they clung on to a two-point lead against the Springboks in a tense last few minutes. Trailing 12-7 in the second half with rain falling, it was not going to be a match where they could play the sparkling rugby of a week earlier.
But that did not mean they could not play. A Dan Carter drop goal sparked the comeback which saw the All Blacks claw their way back into the lead in a hugely physical contest. They showed their poise, patience and versatility in closing out the game, an indication of how far this team has come over the past decade.
It does not always matter how you win, just as long as you find a way to do so. Finding that way is what has made this team such a force over the past six years.
That was key once again in the final in more ways than one.
The common belief is that World Cup finals are tight, low-scoring affairs. But they do not have to be and the All Blacks proved that, scoring three good tries and playing a game in which they looked to use the ball to create space, rather than draw penalties.
The Australians, to their credit, brought a similar mindset, but were unable to get their game going as they were met by a brutal All Black defence.
Then the squeeze went on. Australia scored two quick tries and all of a sudden the score was 21-17.
But there was never any panic. Once again, this team found a way to win and it was those experienced campaigners that had been there and done that leading the way.
Much was made of the selections, the tactics and early tournament form. But you really cannot say a bad word now. We know how hard the Rugby World Cup is to win and this team did it emphatically.
Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Jerome Kaino have all come in for criticism from various corners at different stages, yet all were immense when they needed to be. Sonny Bill Williams made a huge impact off the bench in virtually every game, while Nehe Milner-Skudder and Julian Savea more than justified their inclusion in the back three.
Even if you disagree with the individual performances, you cannot deny the impact they had as a collective and that is the most important thing.
The dropped balls, the poor passes, the unconvincing pool games will all be forgotten. They did what they needed to in order to make it through, then they unleashed their real gameplan and proved to be too good when it really mattered.
World champions twice in a row, just three losses in four years and multiple players who will go down as among the very best to have worn the black jersey.
A great era in New Zealand rugby, aren't we lucky to have witnessed it?
