Avoiding 2019 mistake on All Blacks' minds
All Blacks captain Sam Cane summed up his side's attitude ahead of their Rugby World Cup semifinal against Argentina on Saturday (NZT) when saying: "There's two different Mondays we can turn up for next week, and one of them is horrible."
That refers to losing to Argentina and then having to playoff for the tournament's bronze medal.
To avoid that, the All Blacks must turn up mentally on the edge and be better than before.
That 2019 quarterfinal win over Ireland.
They would know when they started the game where they were at.
"There's plenty of us who have that hurt and scars from 2019 [when losing to England]. We took a massive step up at the weekend, but what we delivered last week might not be good enough this week so, our job is to prepare as well so that we can put in a better performance – personally and as a team."
Cane said the breakdown and collisions in games would be crucial again.
"We had some guys making brilliant tackles [against Ireland] and getting guys to the ground early, allowing some of us to get on the ball.
"Often rugby is a game of winning collisions, which makes things easier. We've been working hard on making that area a real strength."
Fullback Beauden Barrett said playing with brothers Scott and Jordie in a World Cup semifinal was the culmination of a dream that started in their backyard in their youth in Taranaki.
"I am pinching myself to get another opportunity, moments like what we got in the previous game [against Ireland] are why we do it."
The senior family member in the side, Barrett, who is playing his 122nd Test, said brother Jordie's emergence in the midfield did not surprise him.
"Throughout secondary school, he preferred playing in midfield. He likes the combat and physicality. He's one of the few players who has played most positions in the backline, apart from halfback. I've been impressed by his physicality, skills, passing, and kicking with great distance. He has come a long way and has found his position at international level."
Familiarity with Argentina's style of play meant the All Blacks knew the demands they would make of them.
"We know how physical they are, especially among the forwards; how they run so hard, they scrum hard and drive hard. Everything is about physicality and winning those battles.
"Then you've got plenty of skill among their backs, speed, explosiveness. We are expecting anything but know defensively we have to be up for a physical battle and for them to come from the hear. And we expect some silky footwork in the wide edges."
Barrett said Cane had been an inspirational captain.
"He's a leader you really want to follow because of the way he puts his body on the line. The way he defends tackles, he is fully committed. He is inspiring to us when he does those actions."
He said his relationship with first five-eighths Richie Mo'unga had grown since 2019.
"We understand each other more and how we can contribute to the team in different areas of the game, particularly in phase play when it gets out of structure. We are both there and can bounce off each other. If Richie is in the ruck, I can stand up and direct play with the halfback and vice-versa.
"It has been a pleasure to play with Rich, and also D Mac [Damian McKenzie], whoever is out there. The 10-15 combination is very important to this game."
Halfback Aaron Smith said the win over Ireland gave him the most pride of any All Blacks win he had been part of.
"The build-up, the emotion, the game, the spectacle itself. It felt like that game went on for two days; that second half felt like forever. But it was so much intensity and two teams not giving up.
"For our boys to control that last 10 minutes was the most proud moment. Then, to defend 37 phases, stay onside, not to give them an opportunity and for one of our senior players to nail the moment was pretty special."
Smith said the lessons of 2019 in Japan were stark for him and that, and starting better than he did last week, were what he would be looking to improve.
"My execution was off for a good chunk of that game, and it cost the team dearly with a yellow card, and my first two passes found no one. I'm trying to make sure I can execute my role, and in the second half, I was able to do that, do my job, trust my instincts and play, using the lessons from four years ago.