Bledisloe Cup motivation as high as ever - Lienert-Brown
Retaining the Bledisloe Cup is the emphasis for the All Blacks when they meet Australia in Sydney on Saturday in the Lipovitan D Rugby Championship Test.
With only one win in four Tests in the Championship this year, the two games with Australia are also the last chance to at least claim second place in the tournament.
Midfield back Anton Lienert-Brown said that while they hadn't managed the results they wanted against South Africa, they produced some good moments in the two Tests.
"We're pulling out the good form from those performances but also know we need to get better.
"It was a great experience for us all to play in South Africa, especially for the boys that haven't done that before.
"If you think about challenges, it's probably one of the greatest you can face in world rugby to go over there and play them, especially at the moment."
While he hadn't started either Test, he said it was a case of team first. He understood his bench role and was pushing as hard as he could to start.
"I'm always grateful to be in the squad and putting on the black jersey."
Lienert-Brown said the Australians were better than their last result and were leading going into the break. The outcome was not a reflection of they are at.
"They're a much-improved team, and we won't be buying into any of that second half because they're much better than that.
"This group knows [coach] Joe Schmidt very well; he's an incredible coach, and he's the right man for the job at the helm of the Wallabies. You can see some of his coaching styles implemented into the Wallaby system. And knowing him, he works hard, and we know how much he'll be up for the game."
Schmidt has a relentless drive to coach the small things that matter in games, like winning the cleanouts and winning the air.
"He drives the grey areas of the game and in Test footy that can be the difference. There are such small margins and he understandst that."
The bench would also be looking to up its impact in the final quarter. They had discussed the recent efforts in that department.
"We know when the All Blacks are at their best, the bench come on and finish off the game. The reality is we haven't. We could have aced the two games in South Africa, but we didn't.
"We know we need to be better. There's no shortage of talent coming off the bench. It's just the way we execute those last minutes."
The game is likely to see loosehead prop Ethan De Groot return to the front row.
He said his injury was a bulging disc in his neck, which he suffered in the first Argentina game, which was pressing on a nerve, making his left arm weak.
"I got an injection through the front of the neck to get to the nerve, which took the bulge off the nerve. So, it was just a matter of time, rehabbing my neck and getting the strength back in my arm. I'm back to 100 percent now.
He said he felt jealous of the players in South Africa when forced to join the rest of the country, getting up at 3am to watch the games.
He appreciated the extensive history associated with the Bledisloe Cup and said that because of that, it was an easy game to prepare for.
"The messaging throughout the week is important in acknowledging the history, and we don't want to be the first team to lose it.
"It's a huge occasion and the Wallabies are wounded, but so are we and we want to get one back. Both teams will be up for the challenge and I can't wait."