Wow.  What a final!  Congratulations to the New Zealand All Blacks, 2011 Rugby World champions.

Watching the game at the Auckland CBD fanzone with my family and more than 50,000 other spectators was an incredible experience.  And what made the experience greater was the fact that the game was not as one-sided as so many pundits predicted. 

Yes, it was an extremely tight game.   And human nature being what it is, when we come out victorious in a closely fought contest, the feeling of euphoria and relief is much greater when compared to winning by a wide margin.

I've played in and coached a lot of sports games over the years.  And for me, the most memorable games have been the close ones.  One that comes to mind was when I was 15, playing a high school rugby game for Fairfield College against Otumoetai College. 

On that day it poured with rain throughout the game, we were in the final throes of the battle and our team was trailing 4-6. Then, in the final play the ball was passed to me and I drop-kicked a very wobbly, but successful goal to give us victory by one point, 7-6.  Now this game was played over 30 years ago (when tries/touchdowns were worth 4 points), but I can still remember the final stages like it was yesterday.

In the All Blacks-France game the outcome wasn't certain till the final whistle blew.  And that's why, when it was finally over, the whole of New Zealand literally erupted.  It was a tightly-fought one point victory, 8-7, but it was a victory nonetheless.

Till the day that I die I'm quite sure that I'll vividly recall the final stages of the 2011 World Cup rugby final between New Zealand and France.  I'll remember the absolute feeling of relief and subsequent fist pumps in the air I made when the final whistle went.  I'll remember the bear hugs I gave and received from my family members, friends and a multitude of strangers.  And I'll remember feeling an overwhelming sense of New Zealand pride.  It was a great night.

Some thoughts about the game and the nature of competition generally.

Cometh the hour, cometh the lionhearts.

In highly competitive situations – be it in sport or business – some people respond to pressure better than others.  My term for these high-pressure performers? Lionhearts.

One rugby player who obviously thrives on pressure is French captain, Thierry Dusautoir.  Deservedly named World Play of the Year, this bloke has the heart of a lion.  And, like all great leaders, he leads from the front.

Key learning point. In any team situation, you've got to have a core group who thrive on pressure.

You've got to be battle-hardened.

France's tough build-up in the tournament meant that they were more battle-hardened for their final game against New Zealand.  By comparison, New Zealand's path to the final was relatively easier.

Key learning point. In life you've got to get into some tough battles to help you deal with the ups and downs that life sends your way.

When your backs are against the wall there's only one way to go.

Thanks in part to the media-driven campaign to belittle the French, their backs were against the wall.   They were given no chance and they were accused of being dirty thugs.  Indeed, the sentiment against the French team was so loud and thick, they were backed into a corner.  So what did they do?  They came out fighting.  They took all that negative energy and used it to their advantage.

Key learning point. When life throws you a curve ball, you've got to come out fighting.

Proper planning prevents poor performance.

Both the New Zealand coach, Graham Henry, and captain Richie McCaw stated how proper planning over a four year period laid the foundation for the win. 

I don't know if having to play the 5th choice first-five was part of that planning, but things worked out in the end.

Key learning point.  Proper planning lays the foundation for all success.  As well as identifying and formulating your strategy, your strategic plan must account for a variety of curve balls that may be thrown your way.

Less than 12 hours to go to the kickoff of New Zealand's most significant sporting event of the last decade – the 2011 Rugby World Cup final.

Now, for international readers the sport of rugby may not hold much appeal.  But to us New Zealanders it's our national sport.  And we're damn good at it too, with our national team, called the All Blacks, consistently ranked the top team in the world.

Rugby is a genuinely gladiatorial sport.  Not recommended the fainted hearted, the sport is a brutal clash of bodies, minds, strategies and tactics.

With a global viewing audience of 4 billion people, the Rugby World Cup is the world's fourth largest international sporting event, surpassed only by the Olympics, the World Football Cup and the Tour de France.  And our team is in the final, playing France.

So which team will win?  Thinking with my head, and not my heart, I believe the All Blacks will win.  Here's why.

Individually better players

Man for man, the All Blacks have an edge in terms of talent.  The forward battle will be tight, but the overall skill set in the backs for the All Blacks is better.

Collectively a better team

Throughout this tournament the All Blacks have played far better than France as a team.  Yes, it's important to have good individual skills, but these skills must be programmed into the team game.

Ability to adapt strategy and tactics

The skill set of the All Blacks team is such that they can adapt strategy and tactics according to competitive conditions.  They can play a confrontational, forward-oriented game, a wide expansive game, and variations thereof. Defensively the team is very strong – including its aerial defence, which will make the French think twice about kicking.

Stronger team dynamic

Unlike France, the All Black team dynamic – both on and off the field – is stronger.  France has had a number issues, particularly in terms of the relationship between many members of the team and its head coach, Marc Livremont.

Stronger coaching team

Collectively, Graham Henry, Steven Hansen and Wayne Smith are a formidable coaching team who collectively have a wealth of intellectual property residing in their brains.

Home ground advantage

60,000 supporters, most of whom will be dressed in black will provide an incredible home ground advantage for the All Blacks.  Some of the team have already commented that the atmosphere at last week's semi-final was the best they have played in.  Expect the noise to go up a couple of notches tonight.

A stadium of 4 million

The home ground advantage extends far beyond the fact that the All Blacks are playing on Eden Park.  They literally have the whole country behind them, hence the catchphrase, "A stadium of 4 million".  So every time they've been out in the public eye – traveling on the bus, out shopping, or doing some r and r – they have felt and experienced the support of a nation.

No losses in pool play

In every World Rugby Cup final so far, the winning team was unbeaten in pool play.  New Zealand was unbeaten in pool play while France lost twice.

Player farewell incentives

This tournament is the last time that key players Brad Thorn and Mills Muliaina will represent New Zealand, with both heading off in a few weeks time to play in Japan.  The international retirement of these players provides an incentive for the rest of the team to play for them.

Coach farewell incentives

Coach Wayne Smith has already announced his international retirement, and there's a good chance that Graham Henry will retire once this game is done and dusted – especially if the All Blacks win.

Great coaches deserve great send offs – and the thought of the impending retirement of their coaches will give ample motivation to the team.

Time for pay back

In 2007 France humiliated the All Blacks in the quarter final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.  This is time for pay back.

Caveats

So logic dictates that the All Blacks should win.  But there are some caveats, which could tilt things in favor of the French.  Here are three.

1. All and sundry have written off the French – and they go into this game as huge underdogs.  Expectations of a French win are so low, they have nothing to lose.

2. Shoddy journalism – particularly by the New Zealand Herald – about French brutality has got the French team fired up even more.

3. Uncontrollables, such as a New Zealand player being sent off, could tilt things France's way.

4.  France are masters in the art of the out-fox.  So one thing you can expect from the French is the unexpected.

Expectations

France will come out all guns blazing – especially in the first 20 minutes.Provided the All Blacks keep their heads and absorb French pressure, they should come out on top.