McCaw – like it or not – will largely be remembered by what happens tomorrow night.

Richie McCaw hopes the horrors of the past will help the All Blacks reap the ultimate prize after tomorrow night’s World Cup final.

As the final hours seep away before the ultimate showdown against France at Eden Park, a relaxed McCaw today acknowledged the failed 2003 and 2007 campaigns had hardened his team’s resolve to collect the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time since 1987.

Tomorrow night’s match will be the first time any of the current All Blacks have played in a final after getting bumped out of the 2007 quarterfinal by France and losing to Australia in the semi four years earlier.

McCaw tasted defeat in Sydney in 2003 and was captain when they were hustled out in Cardiff four years later and those bitter experiences, he hopes, will ensure the All Blacks don’t capitulate once again under his leadership.

“At lot of guys have been through one, if not two, experiences that have not been too flash,”’ McCaw said.

“You would like to think that just hardens the resolve and the desire. I just think from my point of view, back in 2003, I didn’t understand what it took to win a World Cup.

“Perhaps I didn’t understand again in ’07.”

Despite never losing the Bledisloe Cup since taking over the captaincy from Tana Umaga in 2006, collecting a couple of grand slam titles and also dominating the Tri-Nations during his period in charge, McCaw – like it or not – will largely be remembered by what happens tomorrow night.

Given the New Zealanders are favoured to bowl over France, who lost 37-17 to them in their pool match, McCaw should be confident but he, understandably, remains wary.

While France’s form has been below-par all tournament and there have been a string of reports about their coach Marc Lievremont clashing with players, the All Blacks and their fans have good reason to be wary.

That 20-18 defeat to Les Bleus in 2007 remains fresh in their memories and there is also the 1999 semi loss to the French to mull over too.

“To win it you have got to be the best team in that tournament regardless of what has happened beforehand and you have to produce the goods when it counts,” McCaw added.

”A lot of the guys that have been around a while will understand that. There are absolutely no guarantees. You look around some fellas that have been around a while, they are pretty determined. This is their last sort of chance and they want to make the most of it.”

Although the magnitude of this match will mean many fans retreat to bed tonight wondering if they will be celebrating the end of the All Blacks’ 24-year drought at the tournament, McCaw was confident he would have a decent sleep.

The key, he said, was to call on the experiences of the past and not allow the emotions of the occasion to interrupt his preparations.

”I think you can’t let it get on top of you. If you get too anxious and wound-up, then you will waste a lot of energy. The game doesn’t start until tomorrow night.”

While France have been written off by many media outlets and fans around the world, McCaw should not have to remind his players they cannot take anything for granted.

Past history is proved the All Blacks have been burnt far too often. Even when they last made the final in 1995, they failed to topple the Springboks in Johannesburg.

The New Zealanders were favoured that day but struggled to match the Boks’ passion as a number of their players struggled to overcome the effects of a stomach bug that swept through the team.

”We have got men that have been in situations, that have been around a long time and there is a lot of desire there. And we have got guys that are good enough – but that guarantees nothing,” McCaw emphasised.

“People say, who deserves what? At the end of the day, at a final, it is not about who deserves what. It is who plays the best rugby on that stage in this game. We have got guys that have that ability but it guarantees nothing.”