Publications
Partners
Cape Town - All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen knows what is expected from his side against any opposition and hinted at future squad rotation during the Rugby Championship.
Hansen was addressing the media in New Plymouth on Monday ahead of Saturday's Test against Argentina.
He also said the world champions' management needed to think carefully about team selections and that players need to be protected and rested. He added that changes won't be experimental and that anyone in an All Blacks jersey is a good player.
"It doesn't matter who plays, the expectation is that we play well. That won't change," he told the All Blacks' official website.
Hansen admitted they still felt pressure to prepare correctly from Sundays to Fridays. He also said that they must not become complacent or too comfortable with their success so far. This was something the Wallabies reminded them of in the second half of the first Test and in their narrow 35-29 victory in the second Bledisloe Cup encounter in Dunedin.
He added that Nehe Milner-Skudder was fit and keen for game-time and that he expects a tough challenge against the Springboks in Auckland on September 16.
"South Africa, I think, have been really good this year," said Hansen.
Hansen said the Argentina are in the midst of trying to change who they are and how they operate. They had always been strong up front, and that was something they reverted to under pressure, but they had also been attempting to develop their running game at both Super Rugby and Test level.
"They're in the middle stages of trying to change who they are and how they operate," he added.
