We thought we were going to get the result because what we had learned in the games leading into the tournament was that if we kept doing what we were doing, we'd eventually get the result we needed. Not that night, though.
So I don't see that the All Blacks will feel any particular or extra trepidation because they are playing France. They will go through the same routines as always, know they have to win the game and know that the French will come at them hard.
What I have learned about France through living and playing there for the last few years, is that playing the All Blacks means a lot to them.
They have this almost peculiar ability to motivate themselves to new heights when they play the All Blacks. It does something to them, and I know they will be quite happy to play New Zealand in the quarter-finals. Or at any stage. Most other teams, I suspect, would rather avoid playing the All Blacks. Not France. They will relish the challenge should it come.
On a separate note, I was in France during the week to play for the classic All Blacks against Toulon in a "testimonial" for Jerry Collins. It was a neat way to pay our respects to Jerry, and to also catch up with old friends and teammates.
One of the best parts of the day for me was that former French international Franck Tournaire was able to play in the game.
Franck, who played in the 1999 World Cup, was close to Jerry and was instrumental in getting him to Narbonne. I wouldn't imagine Franck had played for some time, but he came along and gave it everything.
Afterwards we all sat and talked and talked about Jerry and what he had meant to us all. For some of the players the emotion is still a bit raw, but it was good to be able to catch up like that and to also raise money for his baby daughter.
