The All Blacks never panicked when they went 10 points down in as many minutes, and that showed the increased confidence within the team, centre Conrad Smith said.
Conceding a converted try and a penalty within 10 minutes might have been too much for some sides, but Smith said there was no hint of worry within the team, which he said was a vital attribute to possess.
"When you have got a group of guys who have been through that a lot of of times - I think we made a habit of it last year - you do take strength from that and know there are guys who have been there before," he said.
"There was no panic. We just knew we were not executing well. The line-outs were not going our way and we just could not get our hands on the ball.
"But we were always pretty calm. And as the game went on the points started to come."
He said the players had the composure to weather a big start from the opposition.
"When you play with the All Blacks, you know every team that comes at you want to knock you over . . .
"The opposition will come out fast. It's not like we want to start slow, but that is the nature of the thing.
"But we know it is an 80-minute game and we've just got to execute things and play our game we trust, and [believe] that we can win most games."
Smith said the side could feel the momentum shift in the early stages of the second half and it kept up the pressure.
No 8 Rodney So'oialo supported what Smith said, saying the side never worried when it went points down.
"To be 10 to 13 points down, we had to really look ourselves in the eye.
And then to come out of it, really shows what the boys are made of," So'oialo said.
"The boys are really comfortable with each other and know what they have to do."
Smith said it felt like a new season with the Tri-Nations starting, and said the three weeks against France and Italy had been tough, with new players and getting patterns fine-tuned.
He said he felt a bit rusty early on and was feeling a bit weary after only playing one test so far this season.
"I felt it in the first 20 minutes. It was not a hugely expansive game so luckily the lungs did not get a too tough a work-out."
Smith set up the All Blacks try, bursting through two tackles before off-loading to captain Richie McCaw to go over.
"I actually hadn't managed to get my hands on the ball and thought I'd better do something. It was good to have Richie inside."
