Savea: We need to get it right next time

NEW Zealand captain Ar-die Savea admitted their performance wasn’t “up to All Black standard” and hopes the pain of just their third ever defeat to Argentina will inspire a reaction at Eden Park on Saturday.

Back row Savea said: “It’s hugely disappointing. We prepared all week to come here and get the win but it wasn’t our night. Full credit to Argentina, they stayed in with us by putting us under pressure. We couldn’t hold them.

“They suffocated us when we tried to exit and we couldn’t find the right answers to when we wanted front foot ball. We need to look hard at ourselves.

“We created opportunities but we weren’t able to finish them. We weren’t clinical enough which isn’t All Black standard and is something myself and the boys will take on the chin.

“Next week we need the simple things to be done well; getting out of our exits, holding onto the ball, putting ourselves in the right areas of the field. I think we can be a lot better but we’ll feel the pain and hurt tonight, bottle that up so it drives us.”

Argentina revelled in their first ever victory in Wellington but super sub Agustin Creevy says they are already looking ahead to next week where the visitors will aim for unprecedented back-to-back wins over the All Blacks.

The Pumas scored four tries to three, with 39-year-old hooker Creevy putting Argentina in front when he crossed late in the game to hand All Blacks coach Scott Robertson his first defeat.

He said: “It was an amazing performance. We talked during the week about hitting first and I think we dominated the whole game. The scoreline was a fair result.

“I’m 39 and this is my first win here, so this is so important for myself and the whole team. We worked so hard for this, rugby is tough sometimes but moments like these are amazing.

“But I’m now thinking to myself calm down because I want to win next week. As a nation, we’ve never won two games in a row, so that’s our goal.”