The All Blacks' focus on mental health following their Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat to England has been revealed, halfback Aaron Smith and coach Steve Hansen opening up on the side's interior support network.
Losing 19-7 in Yokohama last weekend, the All Blacks were outplayed in every department in their semi-final defeat, England advancing to Saturday night's final for the chance to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time since 2003.
With a third place playoff now left for the All Blacks in Japan, the healing process for the squad has needed to be fast, the group coming together to grieve as one.
"For us, it started at the review," Aaron Smith told media.
"Coach asked us all individually how we were feeling. There was a lot of pain there, a lot of honesty. You've got grown men pouring their hearts out.
"That's showing massive vulnerability. Whether that would have happened a while back? Maybe not. But I know coach pushes us hard to show that.
"In our leadership meetings, we have them after every week, to check where each person's at. People who aren't selected, people who are, are on different scales. I think we just really care about each other a lot. We check in on each other, you can see people having their little convos.
"I'm really proud of our boys to show the emotion that they did. A lot of people won't know what was seen in the changing room, or what we did on Monday, how honest we are and that to each other and with each other. To be that honest in a really tough situation, it's been hard to take - but we all did it, and probably left the room feeling better, not happy but better.
"It's still there, still hurts. But we've got a great opportunity tomorrow to go into the summer with a better feeling."
Hansen also spoke about the need for awareness around mental health in New Zealand.
"It is a massive problem," he said.
"Our biggest problem is that we don't give those people that are struggling to say they're struggling, we think we have to hide it.
"As a result of hiding it, it bottles up, bottles up, bottles up and then it's like a big volcano, when it gets too hot it blows.
"Our job as parents, as work colleagues is to support people, but first of all you've got to know you need the support.
"To know that, you've got to know your people, and let them be vulnerable. It takes a lot to be vulnerable, because how people react to your vulnerability is going to allow you to do it again, or it's going to shut you down.
"So giving them permission is the key, and then letting them be vulnerable. It's no different in sport, families or work. We've got to do it better than we're doing it."
Kimberlee Downs catches up with a Japanese-speaking Andrew Saville in Tokyo after last week's semi-finals. (Source: Other)
SHARE ME