Locks Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick fronted the media yesterday and talked about the impact the locking great had on them.
Retallick said Meads was a legend of the game.
``It is very sad news for the whole country, the passing of Colin. If I was being honest I did not see a lot of him when he played in the jersey,'' he said.
``But since I've got a bit older and understood who he is and was, I have watched his footage back then. For what he did back then and his skill set he was a legend of the game ... it has made a bit of impact on all the boys in the team.''
Retallick, who has played 65 tests in under six years - 10 more than Meads, who did it in 15 years - met Meads briefly two years ago.
``I met him at an end-of-year awards dinner. He was a down-to-earth bloke. Something special in meeting legends of the game which can inspire you.
``Everyone has got their individual motivators. There is a group of people who have done that extra special for the team ... and he would be part of that group. He was not in the forefront of everybody's mind but if you went to everyone in the squad and asked them about Colin Meads and what he was about they would be able to answer. That in itself is pretty special.''
Whitelock said Meads was an inspirational and skillful player.
``It was amazing just the way he had the ball in one hand. He would run over and around players. Just the way he played the game, the physical edge. That is something that has set up a lot of rugby players from when he was playing.''
Many players had tried to take something out of his game and that had been passed on to generation to generation, he said.
Whitelock met Meads briefly and said he he hoped fellow All Blacks would follow Meads' example in always having time for people.
The Crusaders captain said the All Blacks and New Zealand Rugby were yet to decide how to honour Meads this week.
Meads' funeral will be held in Te Kuiti on Monday.