New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick says New Zealand won't lack for motivation ahead of tomorrow’s Autumn Nations Series Test against Ireland.
Long gone are the days when the All Blacks could look across the dressing room before kick-off and inspire themselves to victory by talking about not being the first set of Kiwis to lose to the Irish.
Chicago in 2016 took care of that.
"We obviously can’t talk about that anymore so that’s not a motivation," the 90-cap second row tells RTÉ Sport.
"But like most weeks in here we just concentrate on ourselves.
"[It’s been a] long tour, we’ve got two games to finish our northern hemisphere test so obviously we want to finish with two wins so that’s enough motivation for this group."
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Asked if the New Zealand rugby public viewed Ireland differently since that famous day in Soldier Field when Ireland broke a 111-year hoodoo.
"I’m not sure if it changed perceptions, the Irish are always tough and we never underestimate them," said Retallick, who missed that game through injury.
"In the last period of five to seven years there’s been some outstanding rugby.
"Chicago, and the World Cup quarter-final so there’s no way we’re underestimating the challenge or what’s in front of us.
"[Ireland’s] set-piece is very good, their lineout and the front rowers.
"They’ve lots of classy backs, Bundee [Aki] gets them a lot of go-forward and Johnny Sexton playing off the back of the forwards.
"We need to stop that and create our own momentum so we don’t put ourselves at a disadvantage."
The giant second row will face Ireland for the eighth time in his career tomorrow, while it’s a new foe for openside wing forward Dalton Papalii, who will earn his 12th cap tomorrow.
While no All Black can ever admit publicly that there was a lack of respect for any team they face, there was certainly a feeling among some Irish players in the past that in order to be regarded as peers, a victory must be achieved.
Of the 2016 game that Ireland won 40-29, the 24-year-old Blues player said: "I was back home watching the game and I just saw the passion.
"We’ve always respected teams that have come up against us because it would be a crime not to.
"I remember watching that game and seeing the passion the Irish had when they played that game and never gave up.
"We tried to come back and the Irish hung on. We always respect our opponents. The Irish are getting better each year, they’ve got a quality side and it’s going to be a real big one."
On what his side may have learned from watching Ireland dismantle Japan, he said: "We took a few things but that’s our secret.
"They are just strong players and they do the basics well.
"I’ve always pride myself, and it's why the All Blacks are so good, we back ourselves because we do the basics well, and the flashy stuff will come after that.
"I think the Irish are following the same mold, they are doing the basics well and after they are doing that the flashy stuff is coming and they are getting points."
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