Sitting down and talking's now a key part of All Black life - a far cry from the old days perhaps but that's what the squad did when they got together for the first time in Auckland.
The newcomers were welcomed with a history lesson from injured hooker Keven Mealamu before senior players revealed their experiences in the black jersey... then the four new caps also spoke.
Coach Graham Henry found the tale of new wing Zac Guildford, whose father died in the stands in June as his under-20 team won the junior world cup at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Stadium, particularly affecting.
Another new face, Tamati Ellison, has a rich family history in the All Blacks, including his great great uncle Thomas Rangiwahia Ellison captaining New Zealand's first official rugby team on its tour of Australia in 1893.
The All Blacks face Australia at the end of the month at the Olympic stadium in Tokyo.
