Tawera Kerr-Barlow: Former All Black on embracing World Cup pressure

In his first World Cup dispatch for Irish Examiner Sport, former All Black and two-time European Champions Cup winner with Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle, Tawera Kerr-Barlow gives us the lowdown ahead of the meeting of France and New Zealand.

MAN OF MANY TALENTS: Antoine Dupont of France shouts instructions during the 2023 Summer International match between France and Australia at Stade de France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

AT international test level, so much is about temperament. The talent on show Friday night at the Stade de France for the opening Rugby World Cup game between the hosts and New Zealand will be off the charts but in the moments that matter, give me a guy with that finely-pitched temperament more than a massive athlete.

The pressure levels on France are enormous in this tournament. World Cups are full of the tiny margins that make a difference. So much of it will come back to how well they are prepared mentally.