Dane Coles. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The All Blacks must quickly come down from the high of upsetting Ireland in one of the best World Cup quarter-finals of all time as they prepare to face Argentina in this weekend's semi-finals in France.
The team are determined not to repeat the mistakes of 2019 where an impressive last eight win over the Irish was followed by a tepid performance as they were dumped out by England in the semi-finals.
Hooker Dane Coles said they are desperate to avoid a repeat when they play Argentina this weekend at Stade de France.
"I don't want to be playing for third and fourth again, like we did in 2019. It's a shit week if I'm being brutally honest."
All Black Dane Coles heads for the try line during NZ's 96-17 demolition of Italy at the Rugby World Cup. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Coles is confident the All Blacks have learnt the lessons from that heartbreak four years ago and he said they must move on quickly from the Ireland victory.
"You've just got to forget it.
"What was done last week, is not going to help you this week. I think the reset button is the crucial thing."
Forwards coach Jason Ryan said the All Blacks must overcome the mental challenge of putting the Ireland result behind them whilst maintaining momentum.
"It's a balance of both. Between coming down off that effort, but also building on the confidence that the boys have got as well.
"We've got a bit of confidence but by no means is there any arrogance with that. It's knockout rugby and for finals you build those weeks to be at your best mentally and physically at the end of the week."
Coles said last weekend's win over the Irish was one to be savoured, but he believes the All Blacks will have to lift their performance levels even higher if they're to get past Los Pumas.
"We'll take a lot of confidence but we've got to go up another gear. We've all seen that World Cups are very different with the results over the weekend. The semi-finals and Argentina are going to be a different beast and it's not so long ago that we lost to them in New Zealand."
Argentina beat the All Blacks in Aotearoa for the first time last year, with the historic victory coming the match after New Zealand had beaten the Springboks at Ellis Park to save coach Ian Foster's job.
Jason Ryan. Rugby World Cup France 2023, New Zealand All Blacks v Namibia pool match at Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse, France on Friday 8 September 2023. Mandatory credit: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Ryan insists Argentina are a different team now, but he believes the lessons of that loss in Christchurch are still relevant.
"We learned a lot in that game. They put a lot into their defence to slow our ball down, so we'll make sure we readdress that."
Coles agrees and concedes the fear of losing to them again is a major motivator.
"That (defeat) caused the team (All Blacks) a lot of hurt and that fear drives you. It's good to have that (fear) and acknowledge that, let it energise you and get you to a place you need to be."
It's a short turnaround for the All Blacks with less than a week between the quarter and semi-finals, but Ryan is confident that won't be an issue.
"A lot of that comes down to your language. If you say, 'Oh it's a short week', everyone feels rushed.
"The reality is we're not going to get any fitter or stronger at this time of the tournament, so it's a matter of freshening the minds and really sharpening that mental space."
The All Blacks made 226 tackles in the win over Ireland and the coaches concede there could be some changes to the team given the physical load the players endured, with the side set to be named on Thursday morning.
- RNZ