The All Blacks haven't played for the better part of a month and had only five tests before picking their squad - less football than nearly every other team at the tournament.
They even turned down the opportunity to play another test before the World Cup, saying they'd had enough rugby as it was after playing Samoa, Argentina, South Africa and Australia twice.
Click here for all the best photos of the All Blacks in London:
It seemed a risk at the time - the All Blacks coming into the World Cup perhaps a little underdone.
No chance, says No8 Kieran Read. It was the perfect amount of rugby, he reckons, and the break since the last game on August 15 has served the players well. They didn't need another game.
For the first time in his career, Read has arrived to play in Europe with his body fresh and raring to go. Mentally, he's strong and eager.
Typically, by the time the All Blacks land in Europe for their end-of-season tour, they have played 10 tests and been around the world at least once, if not twice already. Typically, they have players who are starting to feel the bite of a long season.
Not this time. The All Blacks have judged their build-up just about right in terms of the amount they have played.
"We are fresh," said Read. "As a group, a lot of us are itching to get back on the park. It's been a good month, really, between games. Our bodies are in really good nick. We've worked hard together as a group and now we want to put it out on the field.
"It was great to be able to look down and see a few little villages and actually see the ground with no clouds in the way and have some sunshine on our backs when we landed.
"It was certainly a different feeling and a real energiser actually to have that [sun]. Hopefully it sticks around for a few more weeks."
The added bonus for the All Blacks has been the lack of injuries they have suffered coming into the tournament. To illustrate the benefits of their lighter buildup, Wales lost two key players in a warmup test against Italy last week - fullback Leigh Halfpenny and halfback Rhys Webb. The loss of Halfpenny, in particular, has rocked their confidence.
What's particularly encouraging about hearing Read say he's energised is the prospect of him bursting into his best form at this World Cup. There's a feeling he's ready to storm back to his best after a mixed bag in the five tests this year.
He played superbly in the final Bledisloe Cup encounter - romping all over Eden Park - and the All Blacks were the better for it. His influence is huge when he's at his best, allowing, as he does, the All Blacks to be gritty and brutal in the close exchanges around the ruck while also giving them a point of difference further out.
No other No8 in world rugby can match Read for impact or skills and the All Blacks are determined to see him deliver at this tournament.
The French government and FFR were blamed for failures of hosting the 2023 event.