WELLINGTON — All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will breathe a huge sigh of relief that his final preparations for the Rugby World Cup got off to a winning start, but he would also know there was still plenty of room for improvement over the next two months. An under-strength All Blacks side, lacking discipline, held on to deny Argentina their first victory over the world champions, with a 20-16 victory in their Rugby Championship clash in Buenos Aires on Saturday. The All Blacks defense stood out in the second half, while Hansen was also pleased with the efforts of some of the newer members of the team. The 60-year-old Hansen, who is leaving the job after the Rugby World Cup, however, was aware there were elements that would need to be worked on ahead of the Rugby World Cup. The Pumas’ kicking game, a tactic likely to be also utilized by the Springboks, Ireland and England at the global showpiece, put the All Blacks under immense pressure.

Source: National Post July 21, 2019 07:07 UTC