Dan Carter was magnificent, and his late-career tinkering as a ruthless test operator was evidenced by a semifinal drop goal, and an attempt at one in the quarterfinal. The greatest first five-eighth of all time has added something to the All Blacks' artillery, for now and ever more.
Carter has silenced the doubters (hand up here) and the New Zealand drop goal naysayers. His willingness to take a pot was crucial in setting up this victory and gives defences something else to think about.
Two points between the teams didn't tell the story - it would have been a travesty if the Springboks had made the final. The All Blacks weren't wildly expansive, but they did score two tries, and they do have a lot of outstanding rugby on their record. When it comes to the crunch, they have a great pass in them - this time it was an over-the-tackler job from Richie McCaw.
There is no moral obligation to move the ball around, and brute rugby force is a sight to behold in itself. But surely South Africa understands that consistent ball-playing between World Cups, developing a tradition in that area, creates a better chance of striking when needed every four years. Along the way, they'll make rugby more enjoyable to watch.
But how on earth did the 'Boks get so close to winning a show down in which they spent 79 minutes in shut down mode? That was the scary thing. Having shocked with a bit of gap running in the first minute, they closed up shop. They didn't find another gap, and they haven't closed the gap.
There is actually enterprise in their game which bubbles to the surface in teams like the Cheetahs and players such as Willie le Roux. But under the pressure created by crashing to the rising sons of Japan and their inevitable ring-ins, South Africa's lovably emotional coach Heyneke Meyer pulled out the boring blueprint laid down by the famous flyhalf Bennie Osler 90 years ago. South Africa's greatest contribution to this World Cup was losing to Japan. It is an upset that will never be forgotten.
Here's the deal: Argentina, a tadpole compared to the big Springbok fish so to speak, has advanced their once muscular game to a point their inside backs are full of ball players, and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe adds class from the forwards. So why can't South Africa find new gears? If 'needs must' has forced the reinvention of Argentinian rugby, South Africa might realise that they too are at a crossroads, no matter their history. Perhaps it is a lot harder to turn around a super tanker.
Bryan Habana didn't have a good game at Twickenham, but he is a true rugby legend.
The speedy winger has spent his test career chasing, chasing, chasing. When it comes to actually running with the ball, Habana is lucky he isn't paid compliments by the metre.
