All Blacks fans are nervous. World Cup wins against second-tier opponents have been unconvincing. Shag tells us to keep calm and carry on. We can't, now this.
France. In Cardiff.
Now, I'm no Gilbert Enoka, but I do believe in the mental side of sport: the positive, and the negative.
Athletes sometimes leave us questioning otherwise but, at the end of the day, they are all human.
World Cup defeats to the Tricolours in 1999 and 2007 will motivate the French this week, and prey on the insecurities of the All Blacks. You can find all the excuses you want about why they're irrelevant, but history is - and will be - a factor this weekend.
France are the All Blacks' World Cup nemesis. We know it, they know it, the whole world knows it. The All Blacks' two memorable World Cup wins came after beating the French, but we never forget the defeats.
And despite the stats that say the All Blacks are the best in the world, that they've won the last eight Tests against the French, fans are fearful of defeat this weekend.
But what if New Zealand win? What impact will that have on fans, the team?
Regardless of the margin of victory - one point or 20 - the post-match narrative will be the same: the All Blacks have defeated their nemesis, who can stop them now?
Let's face it, you can't play badly and beat the French at a World Cup. The All Blacks will have to deliver their best performance of the tournament to win this match. If they do, anxiety among fans will be replaced with confidence, and the bold pre-tournament belief this team can go all the way. The prospect of facing any other opponent in the tournament will be analysed with straight logic, rather than be clouded by bad memories. Critics and analysts will feel the All Blacks are hitting form at the right time, just as others begin to grow tired.
Perhaps more importantly, think of the impact a win would have on our prospective opponents. Despite their less-than-convincing form to date, no team wants to meet the All Blacks. Every other nation remaining in the tournament will be hoping France can weave their World Cup magic this weekend. Even Michael Cheika and the Wallabies.
Quite simply, no other team in world rugby presents the same challenge, the same questions as France. No other nation has the air of unpredictability for which the phrase "je ne sais quoi" was invented. Get past them, and all other opponents will seem less daunting.
It leaves you wondering whether this quarterfinal against France might, in fact, be our final.
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