All Blacks ready to knuckle down

Wrapping up an unbeaten international program is providing powerful motivation for the All Blacks ahead of Tests against France, England and Ireland.

With Japan duly dispatched 54-6, the All Blacks know the real work starts now as they head to Europe for Tests against France, England and Ireland.

The mission is to complete the year unbeaten - something England denied them last year. And the All Blacks are determined not to make the same mistake twice.

Stand-in fullback Beauden Barrett says the lure of an unbeaten season is providing strong motivation.

"There's a lot of hard work that has to be done. We've got to perform to our best each week because any slip-up against any international team and they can beat us on their day," he said after the All Blacks' 11th win of the season on Saturday.

"It's been a goal of ours ever since we came over here (Tokyo) to finish with four wins to top off a great season."

Before they arrive in London for their revenge mission, they must first overcome the French in Paris next Sunday (AEDT).

While the All Blacks completed the clean sweep in June's three-Test series against Les Bleus, playing the mercurial French at home presents an altogether different challenge.

"We've got to get that right this week, because the French team at home are a difficult beast," Barrett said.

Nine of the senior players, plus "apprentice" Ardie Savea, are already in Paris preparing but, for the younger players involved in the development week in Tokyo, there will need to be a big mental shift for the serious business ahead.

Captain Richie McCaw is confident that will happen.

"This week (in Tokyo) was a challenge in terms of (preparing for) a game you're expected to win to get the performance spot on. That's a different challenge to the game we've got next week," he said.

"Personally I know, and the boys that have been around a while know, that next week is going to be a hell of a match. It won't take too much to turn the screws a bit on that.

"I think all the boys are excited about what lies ahead. You do it one at a time, but it's a big challenge over the next three weeks that we're pretty excited about."


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Source: AAP


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