For a beginner's guide on how to cope without the world's best player, just ask his replacement.
France will top Pool A with victory over Italy in Lyon tonight, and must again muster on without the globe's outstanding talent in Antoine Dupont.
The scrum-half could yet return for the quarter-finals, despite suffering a facial fracture in France's 96-0 thrashing of Namibia on September 21.
In the meantime, Maxime Lucu is the man tasked with subbing in for Dupont. The 30-year-old Bordeaux half-back revealed the best way to start was by turning off his phone.
"The pressure has been on for two weeks now, after Antoine's injury," said Lucu. "A captain getting injured is a major factor at a World Cup. I've had a lot of messages but I've turned my phone off and concentrated on the last two weeks.
"The French team is a group of 33 players, and everyone has an important role. If we're here, it's because we have a role to play, and for me, that's this weekend."
Playmaker Lucu insists he can only go out and play his natural game, and that any attempt to mimic France's injured captain would only end badly.
"My game is different from Antoine's, so there's no comparison," said the 17-cap Lucu. "I've been trying to do that for the last 10 days, to manage the expectation. But above all I want to enjoy the moment."
Italy could leapfrog France and into the quarter-finals with a win, but those chances are remote. They have switched their entire front-row after enduring a scrum demolition in their 96-17 defeat against New Zealand, with Tommaso Allan starts at fly-half, Paolo Garbisi at inside centre and Ange Capuozzo at full-back.
The All Blacks thrashed Uruguay 73-0 last night to complete their Pool A campaign. They are in top spot and have secured a place in the last eight.
