Argentina will face a backlash from New Zealand when the two teams meet again in Auckland following their hosts’ surprise defeat in the Rugby Championship tournament, the All Blacks’ assistant coach said on Monday.
Linker Santiago Carreras scored 18 points on Saturday as Argentina claimed a surprise 38-30 victory in Wellington. The teams meet again this Saturday at Eden Park in Auckland, where New Zealand have not lost in 30 years and have almost 50 test wins.
New Zealand assistant coach Scott Hansen said All Blacks fans could expect a better performance from their team.
“We have talked about a response and what it needs to look like,” Hansen told reporters in Auckland.
“It could be the attitude, it could be the physicality – it doesn’t just happen.”
Hansen said many lessons had been learned from the open assessment of the loss to Wellington on Monday morning.
“The fact is that we were trapped in our own half and were not efficient enough to get out of there,” Hansen added.
“Argentina were allowed to put us under pressure and we did not react well enough in that area of the pitch.
“Our abilities sometimes let us down, that’s what we’re going to focus on.”
The All Blacks want to make a statement at Eden Park.
“We have the opportunity to respond,” added Hansen. “We have to put our stamp on the game.”
Hansen said there was “hurt” in the All Blacks camp, “and that’s how it should be.”
He dismissed questions about the upcoming Tests against world champions South Africa next month in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
“For the All Blacks, it’s one thing at a time. This is a test from which we must learn.”
The All Blacks defence coach said he took it “personally” that his team had conceded 38 points, including four tries.
“We talked today as a defense that we need to be a lot better than we were,” Hansen added.
“Their attempts came from the fact that we were not well positioned defensively. We have to adapt.”
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