Departing All Black Ryan Crotty isn't letting his personal frustrations get the better of him, after a Rugby World Cup that hasn't entirely gone to plan.
With tonight's third placed playoff against Wales to be Crotty - and a host of other All Blacks' - final Test in the black jersey, the week's preparation has been a bittersweet ride, still coming to terms with the 19-7 semi-final defeat to England.
Boasting a host of midfield options, Crotty has struggled for playing time at this year's World Cup, Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue cementing themselves as the All Blacks' go-to centre pairing, while Sonny Bill Williams has provided impact off the bench.
Crotty though, has been given the chance to say goodbye later tonight, although not in the way he'd have wanted, having not played since coming off the bench in the pool stage victory over Canada.
That fact made all the worse, that Crotty could only watch the All Blacks' World Cup exit from the sideline.
"It's tough when you don't get what you want," Crotty told 1 NEWS.
"We worked really hard for it. Disappointing, sad, frustration, anger, all [of] those emotions are just normal, but it's been about trying to, not drop it, but use that to motivate us for this week, and build towards a massive Test match against Wales.
"You have personal goals and aspirations. Obviously everyone in the group wants to be playing, sometimes that's tough to take, you obviously individually [are] disappointed, but the team is always bigger than the individual.
"It takes 31-men to prepare the [playing] 23. Once you get over that disappointment, you redirect your energy into helping the team.
It's not so hard when you care about the people you're trying to prepare for a Test match.
"That's what I've been focussing my energy on the last couple of weeks, preparing my brothers as best I can for the big games."
Crotty will sign off from Test rugby tonight, before joining Japanese club side Kubota Spears from next season.
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