One of the keys to the All Blacks' last two World Cup victories was their vastly improved ability to cope with the pressure of playing in the nerve-shredding atmosphere of knockout matches. For the first time since 1987 (illness-stricken team of 1995 apart), their mental fitness matched their physical fitness.
Another, which coaches Steve Hansen and Ian Foster have both made a point of talking about at length before their recent arrival in Japan is the need to prepare for the unexpected and to a large extent that's what got them home in the last two finals against France and Australia.
Another common denominator is skipper Richie McCaw and the great leader's influence on his teammates and the opposition was significant. But for him, preparing for every contingency was the most important thing.
In the minutes after the excruciating 8-7 win at Eden Park in 2011, McCaw, his lungs still heaving, was asked by Sky Sport interviewer Ian Smith about the performance of Stephen Donald, the fourth-choice first-five who stepped up once Dan Carter, Colin Slade and Aaron Cruden fell to injury in the days, weeks or minutes prior.
"I think the key was expecting things like that to happen," McCaw replied. "If you hope for the best and don't prepare for it then when adversity comes or something happens you can't deal with it. Things happen. You lose a guy like DC and it would be easy to drop your lip but the next guy stood up and then the next guy, with old Beaver at the end. Jeez he was composed. I take my hat off to the guy."