New Zealand went down 18-25 in that Christchurch game, only the second loss to Argentina.
Flanker Dalton Papali'i said, "I wasn't selected for that game, but I was watching, and remember going into the changing room, and it was like being at a funeral. No team wants to do that or even lose.
"Some of the boys talk a little bit here and there, but it's new year. That was a couple of years ago and there's a new Argentina beast."
Papali'i said Argentina was always on the up. They put France under pressure in their July internationals, so the All Blacks were expecting more of Argentina's physical game.
"They've got some big boys in their team. Their forward pack is direct and once they get into the flow of the game, they're quite a hard beast to stop."
There were players on the Argentine side who could lift their teammates with a single action, and when that happened, they could cause problems.
"You've got to start early. You've got to be physical early and quite direct with them because if you let them have a sniff then it's going to be a long day at the office."
He was looking to improve his breakdown work. As loose forwards, they were all trying to contribute their own flavour to games.
"We've got great loosies whose strengths and weaknesses are all different.
"So, it's just trying to impose what you are good at. It's getting around the field, always having options on attack, and defence, and just being a nuisance at the ruck. The trademarks are them, but we just need to get better at them."
He said having Ardie Savea step into the captaincy meant nothing changed.
"He's himself. The boys have welcomed him with open arms. You respect him and follow him."
Papali'i said being part of the All Blacks side, which missed out on last year's Rugby World Cup, was a significant factor in contract extension until the end of 2027.
"Coming up short in that game and losing a World Cup final was pretty hard. That's going to be in me for a while, that loss."
Papali'i said all the Blues members of the team were quick to congratulate first five-eighths Harry Plummer who was called up to join the squad as injury cover for Stephen Perofeta, who has a niggle.
"He's played outstandingly this year. He's taken a massive step in directing on the field, and he's also direct in his communications.
"He nailed that this year and you could say he led us to a championship. He always wanted to get better so, he's going to come in here and really own it."