RWC: 10 things to bring World Cup glory

1. Dig deeper than the Wallabies

In 2011 the All Blacks came into the final on the back of an outstanding performance against Australia. Having been so good one week, they failed to regroup and go up another level again for the final. The French, on the other hand, found something extra, played their best game of the tournament in the final and that's what made a contest many predicted would be one-sided, so close. Asked if there is one thing he had learned from 2011, All Black captain Richie McCaw, said: "The only thing you take out of being in a final before is how deep you have to dig to get across the line. That's the only thing you know. You look at all the teams that have won - they've had to dig pretty deep, and that's what we know we're going to have to do this week. It's not about doing something magical, it's about doing your job when it counts."

2. Stay task- focused

The All Blacks talk of staying in the moment and never being drawn into thinking about the outcome. That gets harder to do in a final - the stakes are so high, the occasion so big that it takes incredible mental strength to not panic. Staying task-focused has been a trait this All Black side has managed to do, without fail, since the last World Cup. The last time they had a bad night on that front was ... the 2011 World Cup final. They panicked a bit back then, lost their focus and played nervously and without cohesion and accuracy. It is vital they don't make that same mistake this time.

3. Bring a surprise

The winning try in the last tournament's final came from a clever lineout move that saw Tony Woodcock charge through a giant hole. It was a neatly executed, well-timed set play that worked to perfection and the All Blacks got the reward for being brave and springing a surprise. There's an unwritten rule that finals should be tense and low-risk - which creates, conversely, the perfect environment to try something different.

4. Manage the referee

There's no point in pretending they don't have a major influence so it's best to accept from the start that managing the referee is going to be crucial. That's not to say the referee is there to be manipulated or talked to after every decision. It means the All Blacks have to understand what referee Nigel Owens is looking for in the key areas of breakdown and scrum and quickly adapt if they are being penalised. Referees like to feel they are in control and teams are being compliant and adaptive and when they feel that, it buys good will and the benefit of the doubt when there are marginal decisions.

5. Use the bench

The chances are high that the game will be tight and perhaps stuck in a stalemate with 25 to 30 minutes to go. This is when the respective coaching teams show their worth - determining who to inject into the game and when to do it. Often the last 15 minutes are when tests break open. Throughout the Steve Hansen coaching era, the All Blacks have used their bench as an attacking weapon - a means to add greater pace and urgency with which to chase the game. And so far in the World Cup, bench players such as Sonny Bill Williams and Charlie Faumuina have had a huge impact in lifting the performance. The bench can turn a final - just think back four years ago to the cameo appearance Stephen Donald made.

6. Play their game

In 1991, England had played a tight and relatively conservative game to reach the final. In the week leading up to the game, a few Wallabies - chiefly David Campese - goaded their lack of ambition and almost dared them into running the ball. It was a style alien to that England team, but they took the bait and probably did themselves out of the victory. If they had played their style of rugby, they may just have crushed the Wallabies. The All Blacks didn't really play their game in 2011 either. They didn't deliver their set plays and their structure collapsed.

7. Start well

Look at the cricket and netball World Cups. New Zealand didn't start well in either and were pretty much buried in the earliest exchanges. If the All Blacks take control early, dominate the first half hour and get two scores in front, they will be incredibly hard to beat.

8. Make the tackles

It's not far off the mark to say that each World Cup final has been won on the back of a heroic defensive rather than offensive effort. Certainly that was true in 1995, 2007 and 2011. In 1995 it was the All Blacks who contained all the attacking threats; in 2007, England played more rugby than South Africa and last year France were the ones who looked most effective with the ball. But rigid, unyielding defence can be a powerful weapon in a final. Swarming all over the opponents, giving them no room to breathe and then scrambling to cover - that can be enough to get the job done.

9. Take the opportunities

There were just two tries in the 2011 final and none in 2007. Again, just two in 2003 and 1999, none in 1995 and one in 1991. Any half chance has to be exploited - that's all the All Blacks might get in 80 minutes and seven points in a final is a quantum leap. It's about making sure that the decision-making and execution are razor sharp when the time comes - all it might take is two good passes to make the difference between winning and losing.

10. Kick the goals

Last week Daniel Carter nailed two touchline conversions and dropped a goal. They were huge kicks and the confidence and momentum they gave the All Blacks was significant. World Cup finals are typically low scoring with few tries scored. They have been penalty fests in the past and the kicker who blinks tends to be the one a bit sad at the end of the night.