Memories of 2019 motivate All Blacks for semifinal

Memories of being dumped by England in Japan's 2019 Rugby World Cup semifinal will be a driving force for the players involved ahead of Saturday's (NZT) game with Argentina in Paris.

Hooker Dane Coles said the All Blacks had to forget about their win over Ireland and switch on to their next goal. Pushing the reset button was crucial.

"What we did last week is going to mean stuff all if we don't back it up. That's the challenge of Test footy, that's the challenge of being at a World Cup and, as leaders, we've got to make sure these boys [new players] see that."

Coles said he also had the motivation of wanting to avoid playing in the bronze playoff for third and fourth.

"Regardless of who you are playing, you are playing in the semifinal and if you don't turn up you're in for a week that tests you mentally, physically and emotionally."

The team could take confidence from the quarterfinal result but needed to find another gear against Argentina.

"We know how World Cups go, and it's not so long ago that we lost to them in New Zealand for the first time. We know they're in a good spot and they turn up and are a physical team."

Coles said Argentina was a more direct team with their runners and a set-piece game. They were passionate and used the ball, and while they had played them a lot, World Cups were different, and they would turn up with passion and desire to beat the All Blacks.

"It's good to be here. The boys put in a massive effort, we put a lot into that week, we're proud, but it's time to reset and go again."

Coles said he had never been involved in a game like the Ireland game; one sequence had gone for six minutes. The intent of the players and the way they played for each other was backed by those who came off the bench.

"We've got to do it all again this week, and be even better. It was a great game to be part of."

He said relaxing with families the day after the game was good for 'decompression' and being normal for 24 hours was part of recovering.

He said the effort props Ethan de Groot and Tyrell Lomax put in while playing 60 minutes against Ireland was inspiring.

De Groot said he didn't mind that there were so few scrums in the game, which was probably why he and Lomax were on the field for so long.

"It's all good, the scrum is not the whole game."

It had been tough being under suspension and having to sit in the stands during games, but he had been put through his paces by Nic Gill, the trainer, and he hadn't struggled too much in the quarterfinal.

De Groot said it had been easy to follow the side's leaders against Ireland as they stepped up when required. That was typified by the experience Sam Whitelock showed when winning the turnover at the end of the game.

"All I want to do is send these boys out on a high note. That's my job at the moment."

SEMIFINAL: All Blacks v Argentina, Saturday 21 October, 8am NZT (Friday 20 October, 9pm CET), Stade de France, Paris.