All Blacks: ABs keep calm and carry on

Trust in leaders and systems makes McCaw’s men extraordinarily resilient.

It has been 21 tests since anyone beat the All Blacks - 36 since they lost at home and while there won't be unanimity on whether they are the greatest side in history, there is no debate on whether they are the mentally toughest.

Once renowned for their psychological frailty under pressure, the All Blacks have become the most resilient side of all time. No one cracks them. No one separates them from their self-belief: their unbreakable conviction that if they trust themselves and trust each other, they will get their outcome.

Ireland rang their bell last year but left a 30-second window which the All Blacks exploited. England had a draw in the bag at Eden Park in June but the All Blacks thought differently. Australia had 60 minutes against 14 men but the All Blacks' resolve was too much for them.

South Africa, so good at the breakdown and lineout; so nicely balanced in their decision-making and so in control of the final five minutes of Saturday's test - couldn't find a way through that black defensive line.

"The character of the boys and the ability to keep calm still surprises me a lot," said Aaron Smith. "The leaders really stepped up. They said, breathe boys, back our D, and it calms you down a bit.

"I guess the biggest turning point for me was Ireland last year. About 30 minutes to go Richie was still saying 'we have got this, boys. Stay calm. Trust our systems and it will work'. The belief for me has really gone up. We have always said if a team is good enough to get around us or through us then so be it. But they won't beat us for spirit or lack of trust. We won't have anyone running out of the line trying to make a play. Everyone will stay in the system and trust everyone to make the right decision.

"They [the leaders] communicate things really calmly and it calms you and for me that really helps."

That trust has become the most remarkable feature of this All Black era: it has been a key reason why they have only lost once in their last 42 tests. The tone is set by Richie McCaw who is closing in on his 100th test as captain. His teammates testify how they are in awe of his ability to inspire them, keep them task-focused and brimming with confidence.

In Wellington, it was McCaw who made a critical hit on Duane Vermeulen in the final minutes. It was McCaw whose voice and demeanour did most to settle those around him.

Conrad Smith marshalled the backs. The veteran centre makes quick, clean decisions and never gives the sense he feels anything other than total conviction the All Blacks are going to win.

Kieran Read is the side's other colossus. He made the All Blacks' try first with his awareness, then his athleticism and finally his patience.

Next to McCaw he has become the man his teammates look to in those pressure situations. And they look to him because they know they will see a man who is ice cool and totally focused.

"That composure is key," says Read. "You make your best decisions when you are calm and composed and if you can just rub that off to everyone in the squad.

"We knew we were good enough defensively to hold them out - it was about keeping our discipline and not giving them a chance."