That's what this All Black side has learned to do in the wake of their quarterfinal loss eight years ago and as hard as it was to swallow at the time, that game has become one of the most significant landmarks in New Zealand rugby.
The All Blacks of eight years ago didn't have that composure under pressure that they did at Twickenham. Staying calm - in the present as the All Blacks like to say - has been the single most important skill they have learned.
It was defeat in Cardiff 2007 that began the All Blacks on a journey towards learning about the brain and how it reacts under pressure.
They have worked endlessly on their ability to make good decisions under pressure. It's been the thing they have become world renowned for: battling and scrapping and somehow making the most of what little comes their way.
They certainly didn't get all of their option taking bang on against South Africa - especially in the first half, but they did nail the key moments when they had to.
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Dan Carter's dropped goal was perfectly executed. It was also the perfect play: reduced to 14 men, five points down and in need of something to shift the momentum, three superbly taken points was a major psychological blow to strike.
No one needs reminding that the drop goal was anathema to the All Blacks eight years ago - they didn't practice them or even believe they would ever possibly need to be able to land one.
Those double lineout steals in the last 12 minutes were priceless. Other teams may have not competed, worrying about their ability to defend the inevitable drive. This side backs its judgement and ability and Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock were superb at getting the better of a Springbok lineout that is usually flawless.
In the final 10 minutes the All Blacks didn't give South Africa a sniff of snatching the points they needed. They made them play deep in their own territory - obvious enough but each and every All Black not only knew that, they knew how to achieve it.
That's the difference between the All Blacks now and eight years ago - they simply don't play dumb football. They understand how to put pressure on teams and take it off themselves.
"Experience allows that to happen and we have probably got the greatest skipper and probably the greatest player New Zealand has ever seen," said All Black coach Steve Hansen.
"In 2007 as a young captain he was criticised a lot and I know that hurt him. He's grown his leadership skills and his team around him have grown him as ll. The leadership group has a massive amount of self-belief. There are are a number of guys - we have had moments where we have had to keep the at self belief. So when you get into situation like tonight it is all about process and it becomes the norm.
"Your leadership on the field is based around having seen that many times before. There are three or four other guys who have played 100 caps. You have got guys on the park who can do that for you. It is a learned skill like anything."
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It's fitting perhaps that the final score was 20-18 to the All Blacks - the very same score by which they lost to France eight years ago.
And if there is a neat way to put in a nutshell why exactly the All Blacks were winners in 2011 and back in the final four years later, it is this: they understand that at World Cups it doesn't matter if the victory is by one point or 10. They just know it has to be a victory.
- By Gregor Paul in London
