All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane admits complacency played a role in their historic second-test loss to Ireland, but he's determined to right those wrongs in the series-decider on Saturday.
The tourists claimed their first-ever win over the home side on New Zealand soil at Dunedin, just a week after receiving an All Blacks thrashing at Eden Park.
Ioane understands his side need to start putting together consistent performances, with the 2023 Rugby World Cup just 14 months away.
The 25-year-old was instrumental in their first-test win, with two trysaving defensive plays to deny the Irish points, but he concedes the camp relaxed and failed to switch on in the second encounter at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
"Coming off the back of a loss last year into that first test, we had that knot in our gut, which wasn't there [at Dunedin]," Ioane told Newshub.
"There naturally was [complacency]. Game one and game two, the way we played was night and day."
After a disappointing end to 2021 and now with three losses from their last four fixtures, the All Blacks have come under criticism from pundits and fans alike.
"The World Cup isn't won on Saturday or even at the end of the year, but we've still got to be able to put performances together to make those steps," said Ioane.
The Blues midfielder is excited to prove the doubters wrong with a series win in Wellington - and potentially the No.1 ranking, if other results go their way.
"Big games are the ones you remember and the ones you want to be a part of."
Watch the video above for the full story and join Newshub from 7pm Saturday for live updates of the All Blacks v Ireland series decider
