Ardie Savea may have been on an End of Year Tour to the northern hemisphere before but has said that this tour is a whole different kettle of fish.
Speaking in Chicago as the team start their build up to what's sure to be a stern test against Ireland at Soldier Field on Sunday (NZT), Savea said that it's been a very different experience compared with his first time north with the All Blacks.
"The first time I toured with the All Blacks, it was just about learning off some of the legends of the game with Richie being here in 2013 and soaking everything up," he said.
"Now it's like you're preparing to play... So you're doing everything you can [in your preparation] to make sure you play well individually".
Since the retirement of legendary openside flanker Richie McCaw, Sam Cane and Savea have been duelling it out for the no.7 jersey. And with the 'arrival' of Matt Todd in the All Blacks win over Australia a fortnight ago, it's fast become a three horse race.
However, Savea downplayed the competition between the three and said that they're all just contributing so that the whole team can perform at a higher level.
"I think [the competition] is a good thing.
"When one of us plays well, it pushes us to try and perform better. It's awesome being alongside Toddy and Sam.
"And whoever has that seven jersey on the weekend, we're always trying to support each other."
But Savea did concede that his size is a factor that will determine what spot he fills in the All Blacks squad in the future.
"I'm just worrying about my role as a seven in the team, around the breakdown, being stronger over that and obviously with my weight getting heavier.
That'll help me physically, moving bodies, being strong over the ball. It's hard, somehow I eat so much but I still stay the same weight but I'm working on it.
It's just about working hard with the nutritionist and finding ways to put on that weight."
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