Never, never, never should you underestimate the French on the rugby field, simply because they themselves never seem quite sure what they are about to deliver.
On reflection the World Cup final was tailor-made for them to provide something special.
Their lead-up form was awful, so awful they probably should have failed to make it through to the top eight had the so-called minnows, Tonga, not been given the bum's rush as far as the draw for pool play was concerned. They, of course, actually beat the French in pool play but suffered a surprising loss to Canada just four days after an exhausting battle with the ABs.
Then there was that controversial semifinal win over Wales, who were down to 14 men after having their captain somewhat unluckily sent off midway through the first half. So bad were France that even if Wales had played half-pie decent for the rest of that match they probably would still have won.
In the land of the enigmatic French though that final dress rehearsal for the grand final could hardly have been better. In essence it meant they were due a big one, and, boy, they certainly gave us that.
Not that I think for a moment that France deserved to win. Yes, stats will show they had a clear edge in the crucial elements of territory and possession but they will also show that despite having a plethora of prime attacking opportunities they failed to register even one try during the course of the match. Champion teams simply don't let that many chances pass them by.
The ABs, on the other hand, were good enough to hoodwink their opposition through some nifty lineout play that resulted in prop Tony Woodcock scoring what was to be the game's try without a hand being laid on him. It was rugby art in its purest form, an absolute joy to behold ... well at least for those of us bloody desperate to end 24 years of agony and despair.
Woodcock's try and that oh-so-timely penalty by super sub Stephen Donald apart, it was the disciplined defensive effort of the ABs that led to skipper Richie McCaw jubilantly holding the Webb Ellis Trophy aloft at the game's end.
Not only was the first-up tackling superb but their ability to contest the breakdown situations so ferociously without conceding penalties was magnificent, especially late in the second half when the French were throwing everything at them.
If ever there was an example of the old adage, when the going gets tough the tough get going, this was it. No sign of choking for sure.
It is a mark of the ABs' dependence on teamwork that when it comes to singling out individuals for special praise it's hard to come up with any name that stood out above the others.
There will be lasting memories though of those two important lineout takes by the indefatigable Brad Thorn late in the game, the sharpness in the passing of Andy Ellis after he replaced an out-of-sorts Piri Weepu at halfback, the composure of experienced midfielders Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith in tight defensive situations and the leadership of McCaw, Captain Courageous in every sense of the words.
What now for the ABs? Winning a World Cup away from home is still a monkey on the back but you'd have to think that come 2015 there will be few of the present squad readying themselves for that assignment.
Unless, that is, the NZRFU relaxes the rules that do not permit players strutting their stuff overseas being brought into the ABs' fold, and that is certainly not beyond the realms of possibility.
Interesting, too, in the shorter term will be the battle for the head coaching job, especially with Graham Henry expected to be standing aside.
The inside chatter is that present selector and forwards coach Steve Hansen will get the job but I'd like to see fresh blood in charge, with Todd Blackadder and John Kirwan at the head of my list of contenders. How about you?
