New Zealand All Blacks
ELITE RUGBY | NEW ZEALAND | NATIONAL TEAM 

Breaking the World Cup curse through clarity under pressure 

The Challenge 
The All Blacks were regarded as the finest rugby union team on earth, yet they’d developed a reputation as serial World Cup "chokers" – repeatedly failing to cope with pressure when opponents produced the unexpected. In 1999, for example, when the underdog, France turned a 24-10 deficit into a 43-31 win. Or the 2007 quarter-final defeat against France where New Zealand couldn't create a dropped-goal chance in the final minutes despite numerous opportunities. Defeats by Australia in 1991 and 2003, South Africa in 1995 highlighted two decades of national frustration. 

With the 2011 World Cup approaching and New Zealand hosting, the stakes couldn't be higher. Head coach Graham Henry, reflecting on 2007 said: "We wondered if we'd been stronger mentally whether we would have knocked over the French in that Test. That's a biggie – performing under immense pressure and doing it when things you don't expect to happen, [do] happen." 

No one doubted the All Blacks possessed the technical skills and tactical ability to win. But their mental strength in adversity would continue to be scrutinised until they regained the Webb Ellis Cup. 
"We couldn't have been under more pressure at times, but we stuck to our guns and got there in the end. I think the key [to winning the tournament] was expecting things to happen. If you hope for the best and don't prepare for it when adversity comes, you're not ready for it.” 
Richie McCaw, All Blacks Captain 
The Solution
Eighteen months before the 2011 World Cup, the All Blacks’ management team partnered with Gazing, enlisting directors and founding partners Ceri Evans and Renzie Hanham. The mission: develop a framework to help players think clearly under pressure by stripping away mystique and complexity. 

Gazing worked alongside the All Blacks’ mental skills coach to build the Red2Blue framework into existing structures, mentally preparing the All Blacks not just in readiness for the World Cup, but during the tournament itself. The focus was on expecting adversity rather than hoping for the best – preparing players to execute their skills and do the simple things well when pressure mounted. 
The Impact 
  • World Cup victory defeating France 8-7 in a nerve-jangling final where France dominated the second half, closing from 8-0 to 8-7 with over 30 minutes remaining 
  • No panic under pressure the All Blacks performed with cool, calm precision, limiting France to one long-range penalty attempt – no sign of the panic button pressed in previous tournaments 
  • Mental clarity when it mattered players thought clearly and correctly, executing skills and doing simple things well under extreme adversity
  • Twenty-four year curse broken proving their mental strength could match their technical brilliance 
Key Results
2011 Rugby World Cup Champions | Mental framework sustained throughout tournament | National redemption after 24 years 
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