When the All Blacks were last sighted at the World Cup, eyes were glazed and faces expressed shock as they tried to comprehend their earliest exit in tournament history.
Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, replaced during that 2007 quarter-final, were forced to watch from the stands in Millennium Stadium as France rallied to upset a crumbling New Zealand side.
Four years later, McCaw, Carter and Co and the same coaches reappear under lights tonight in their revamped Eden Park fortress to begin a new quest to banish those haunting memories when they open the seventh World Cup against a fearless Tonga.
Armed again as the title favourites, the All Blacks are said to be a lot more excited about the build-up than they were four years ago, because they're on home turf.
But coach Graham Henry noted the players have become quieter, bantering a little less and focused a bit more.
As his assistant Steve Hansen put it, having not won the World Cup in 24 years, "There's just a sense of needing to get the job done."
Tonga should be accounted for, although it's not expected to be as easy as that sounds.
New Zealand hasn't scored less than 45 points against the Pacific Islanders in their three previous matches, two of which were at World Cups in 1999 and 2003.
But knowing Tonga has become far more professional and a lot harder to beat in recent seasons, the All Blacks have chosen a side to meet the improved physical threat head on.
The All Blacks will send out virtually their best pack, confident of winning the set-pieces, while the backline has been bulked with muscle and speed in the form of Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Dagg instead of the experience of nearly 150 caps shared by Conrad Smith and Mils Muliaina. Utilities Richard Kahui and Isaia Toeava were also preferred out wide, ahead of specialist wings Cory Jane and Zac Guildford.
Williams, the back-up midfielder who's loyalty has been questioned while he hassles over his contract, was offered unexpected game time. And Henry gave him a message: "Don't try and do it all in five minutes, the game lasts for 80," he said.
"I think when players get a chance and haven't played for a while, they try and push it too much and overdo it and I guess patience is going to be key.
"If he just lets his natural ability control the way he plays then I think he will do well."
Tonga captain Finau Maka boldly declared his squad didn't care who New Zealand put up against them.
A majority of the players in squad have lived and played in New Zealand, including Maka. His brother and coach, Isitolo Maka, was a 1998 All Black.
"It's home away from home for us, just another boost for us really," Finau Maka said.
The Tongans have also been boosted by the frenzied and fun support of their fans, who have literally stalled Auckland wherever the team has gone.
There are more than 55,000 people of Tongan descent in New Zealand, more than half the number who live in the islands.
The Tongans will send out a front row heavier than New Zealand's and the fastest player on the field, winger Viliame Iongi.
Their confidence has been proudly expressed by Maka all week. "Tonga beat Fiji in its last match and New Zealand lost to Australia," he teased.
"We've got our tails up and theirs is down."
All Blacks vs Tonga Eden Park, tonight, 8.30pm