For two sides entering the tournament with their frailties on show, Ireland and Wales haven't done a bad job of banishing their demons. What's more, both sides can now genuinely say reaching the Rugby World Cup final isn't wishing thinking, but a goal that's becoming more achievable by the day.
Not that either Declan Kidney or Warren Gatland would say so. For the time being, the immediate focus for both coaches is Saturday's quarter final between the two sides in Wellington - a match that, on recent performances, promises to be one of the most enthralling of the tournament.
Both coaches, though, also know that they may never get a better chance to reach the final. The winner of Saturday's clash will face either France, who have slowly been getting worse as the tournament progresses, or England, heavyweights who have ground out unconvincing victories and have yet to have serious questions asked of them by a top quality side.
Not that this would necessarily have been expected of either side. For Ireland, the deficiencies were obviously on display with four defeats from four warm up games. Heading into the tournament, Kidney's men looked short of confidence, invention or any form of belief that they could challenge down under.
For Wales, their problem was less obvious. Each tournament a talented team takes its place, and each year some form of frailty takes control. With Wales, you're only one game away from brilliance or disaster and there were still question marks over Gatland's exciting but young squad heading to New Zealand.
Both have dispelled these and then some. For both sides, their second game was the key match.
Wales had shown plenty of flair and excitement against South Africa but, in a familiar story, fell short. It was the Samoan game that showed what Gatland's men were capable of.
This was Wales' most England-like performance. After nerves and indiscipline at the breakdown, Gatland's team dug deep and found a that small moment of opportunity to squeeze the ball over the line, courtesy of Shane Williams.
Samoa's performance deserved better, but, crucially Wales had won ugly, whereas in past meetings with the Samoans they would have crumbled. The confidence afterwards was plain to see with an utterly convincing hammering of Fiji in the final pool game, exorcising their demons of France from five years ago.
The Irish, meanwhile, can easily pinpoint the Australia game as they day they rediscovered their belief. The signs were there against the USA, with a strong defence and pack but little flair. It was a performance that gave little indication of what was to come against the Wallabies.
And it was the pack was the difference, and has been leading the Irish resurgence ever since.
Props Mike Ross and Cian Healey and hooker Rory Best dominated the front row, Australia's weakest point and gave a platform for their backs to launch a well coordinated kicking game. Should Best fail to recover from injury ahead of the weekend, it would be a huge blow to Ireland.
That pack showed it could stand up to bullying, as well as being bullied, against Italy. Azzurri coach Nick Mallet may have talked up his pack ahead of the game but the Irish simply stood firm before turning the screw in the second half.
All of which makes for a fascinating encounter in Wellington on Saturday, with two sides on top of their game and full of confidence.
With battles all over the pitch, it is almost impossible to pick which side will prevail. Wales have an abundance of attacking options among their backs.
Players such as Jamie Roberts are growing in international stature every game and George North a man-mountain of a winger, with their youth going up against the experience and brilliance of Brian O'Driscoll and potentially Ronan O'Gara.
In the pack, both teams possess players of the tournament so far, with flankers Sean O'Brien and Welsh captain Sam Warburton both outstanding in the pool stages. Watching the pair go head to head will be one of the expected highlights of the quarter finals.
In fact, just highlighting a handful of players does a disservice to both squads. The path to the final is opening up nicely, even if it would be unwise to write England, or even the forlorn French, off entirely.
Ireland and Wales have already lit up the World Cup. They will undoubtedly light up Wellington at the weekend. The biggest disappointment from the match is one of these teams will be departing the tournament early.