Dalton Papali'i has pointed to last year's World Cup heartbreak as the main motivating factor for re-signing with NZ Rugby.
The 34-test flanker will stay in New Zealand and the Blues until 2027 under this new deal.
"That was a pretty big factor, coming up short in that game," Papali'i said on Monday about the 12-11 loss to the Springboks in Paris last November.
"Losing a World Cup final is pretty hard. We had some of the greats of our game and we could've sent them off on a real high but that's footy. That was always the dream, to win a World Cup final, but that's there so pretty happy to re-sign."
Dalton Papali'i. Photo: Lynne Cameron/SmartFrame
Papali'i is part of a very competitive All Black loose forward picture and started both tests in the series against England. Ethan Blackadder took over against Fiji, with Luke Jacobson able to over the 7 jersey and former captain Sam Cane recalled to the squad as well. As well as those players, Ardie Savea is fully capable of moving back to the openside from number eight as well.
The All Blacks take on the Pumas of Argentina this Saturday, their first visit since 2022 that yielded their first win on New Zealand soil. Papali'i didn't play in that test, but remembers the post-match feel very well.
"I remember walking into the changing room and it felt like a funeral," he said, before adding they would not be taking the Pumas lightly.
"They're a team that's always on the up. They're a physical team, they're very direct, once they get into the flow of the game they're difficult to stop. They have players on the team that once they start to fire, the whole team fires. So you have to start early with them, if you let them have a sniff it's going to be a long day in the office."
Dalton Papali'i. Photo: Lynne Cameron/SmartFrame
Papali'i is confident this new look All Black team under Scott Robertson is capable of continuing on their winning ways.
"We've got really good loosies that are all different, so it's just trying to impose what we're good at.
"It's a whole new management, a lot of old boys have left so the first few weeks were [about] trying to figure out what it's all going to be like. Everyone's real welcoming as usual. We don't want to lose. There's a standard that we want to put our best foot forward."
All Blacks v Pumas
Kick-off: 7.05pm, Saturday 10 August (NZT)
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
Teams will be announced on Thursday.
