Professor in Sport Psychology at Massey University and Olympic Sport Psychologist Gary Hermansson says to perform well you've got to get your mind and body in the same space.

Less pressure to win helped the All Blacks stay focused on the game, a Massey University sport psychology expert says.

The All Blacks walked away victorious as back to back world champions in the World Cup final at Twickenham on Sunday.

Professor in Sport Psychology at Massey University and Olympic Sport Psychologist Gary Hermansson said having the players remain calm and focused on the goal at hand played a big part in their success.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw holds the Rugby World Cup aloft as team-mates cheer as rugby's first ever back-to-back world champions.

During the tournament, the team remained well balanced and managed pressure well.

Four years ago, the All Blacks carried a massive weight of expectation when they hosted the global tournament. It had been 24 years since the team had claimed the cup.

But, there was reduced stress this time round. If the team had lost in the final, the impact would not have been as devastating as it would've been four years ago, he said.

"Having the win in 2011 kind of reduced the stress.

"It would have been quite devastating (to lose) but it wouldn't have been quite as bad if we had lost in 2011.

"It was getting to the point where we were struggling, we were finding it difficult every four years and the nation got more and more miserable and more anxious about it."

There was a look of relief on Richie McCaw's face when the team won in 2011, but on Sunday, he was beaming.

"The level of tension and anxiety and the degree of expectation was much more realistic this time around, which has given us an easier road," Hermansson said.

"To perform well you've got to get your mind and body in the same space.

"When you get a lot of expectation on you, you start getting preoccupied by the outcome, and the consequences. Your mind and body get out of alignment and decision making becomes a problem as well. It's the ability to keep your head in the moment, once you get dragged away from that then that's the most common problem. It's doing it that becomes the hard thing."

This time, it all came together nicely, he said.

 - Stuff

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