The former New Zealand fly-half was treated for testicular cancer when he was just 18 years old and admitted giving himself a reminder of the tough times he’d been through helped him feel less pressure on the pitch and gave him the drive to succeed.

Recalling his 2011 World Cup debut, which came after Dan Carter was injured, he told Rugby World magazine: “I always wrote my hospital number on wrist tape for every game that I played, so that I could look down during games and remind myself that I had already been through s***.

“It made me driven and motivated to try and achieve the goals I had to set myself.

“So I actually felt zero pressure. Even when replacing Dan Carter, the man who was meant to be winning the World Cup for New Zealand and the best to do it.

“I wanted to be there in the first place and I had this learned attitude of just enjoying the journey. I had something to prove and nothing to lose.”

Aaron recalled feeling “invincible” until his cancer diagnosis.

He said: “Rugby took off for me in high school, making age-grade teams and getting on the radar for the province.

“I was 18, leaving school thinking I was invincible and that the world was my oyster.

“Strolling out of the school gates for the last time with no cares in the world.

“Then one day, I was washing in the shower and felt a lump that I thought was a bit odd.

“I left it initially for a week or two but it hung around, so I made the decision to give my GP a call and get it checked out.

“Not long after that, I found out I was about to start my own journey with being diagnosed with testicular cancer. It was pretty crazy.”