The All Blacks' newest faces are pushing established players to better themselves, says hooker Dane Coles, as the team experiences a year like no other.
The logistical nightmare of COVID-19 travel restrictions has seen the All Blacks take a larger- than-normal squad on tour, contesting in the Australian-based Rugby Championship, before embarking on their northern hemisphere tour.
Starting with USA Eagles in Washington on Sunday and finishing against France in Paris on November 21, the All Blacks play five tests in five weeks, while navigating the COVID travel landscape in the process.
The high volume of games in 2021 has seen coach Ian Foster hand caps to six new players so far, with Quinn Tupaea, George Bower, Ethan Blackadder, Finlay Christie, Ethan de Groot and Samisoni Taukei'aho all making test debuts this season.
But having so many fresh faces has only pushed the All Blacks' senior players to be better, Coles tells Sky Sport's Breakdown, with the new group hoping to cement themselves as first-choice players.
In particular, loose forward Blackadder, 26, has given Foster and his selectors a headache, with Rugby Championship form that thrusts him into first XV contention - challenging the likes of Akira Ioane, and captains Ardie Savea and Sam Cane.
Young hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho has been another to put his hand up, stepping up to take the spot of the All Blacks' back-up to Codie Taylor in the No. 2 jersey, leaving Coles with a fight on his hands in the search of test game time.
"The guys coming in are adding value," Coles says. "They're not happy just to be here, they're pushing guys to be the best, which is a great environment to be part of.
"You've got guys with that attitude, guys like Ethan Blackadder, who's been pretty special.
"When guys are pushing the older bunch and want to play every week, it creates a real competitiveness amongst the group, especially an old fella like me. I'm pretty keen to better that or work with them, and create a bit of edge amongst the lads."
Taranaki lock Josh Lord is another new face likely to join that list, called up for the northern tour, after the departures of Patrick Tuipulotu and Scott Barrett.
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