All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith has applauded team management for implementing the player rest system this season, saying the concept is proving to be a "blessing in disguise" for those rested.
Smith said he feels in the best condition he's felt in a while heading into the end-of-year tour and he's hoping to follow up that good feeling off the field with strong performances on it.
"I feel like in the past maybe I have tapered away on the end-of-year tour, but the body is in good shape and I come in mentally fresh and excited about trying to finish the year off on a personal high," he said.
"That's a challenge, especially playing 20-odd games already, but it's a challenge I'm trying to meet on this tour."
Under coach Steve Hansen's rest system, Smith has only missed one game this season - the Rugby Championship clash with the Pumas in New Plymouth - but even that has been impactful for the 28-year-old.
"When you get told early in the week you're pretty gutted, but then you get back in the team-first zone. When you get rested it sucks, but you know the next week you're going to be humming, feeling really good and attacking that next game or next block," he said.
"With how the Rugby Championship is split up you can actually get two weeks off. As you get a bit older that's like gold and you can go for another month, or whatever's needed."
Members of the All Blacks' leadership group who won't join the team until next week include captain Kieran Read, Sonny Bill Williams, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett and Sam Whitelock.
They'll rejoin the team after this weekend's match against the Barbarians with four matches left against France, a selected France XV, Scotland and Wales.
The All Blacks play the Barbarians at Twickenham at 2:30am this Sunday.
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