Saturday 10 September 2016 15:08, UK
New Zealand captain Kieran Read praised the impact of the bench as the All Blacks beat Argentina 57-22 in their Rugby Championship clash on Saturday.
The scoreline hardly reflected the first 50 minutes of the game when the Pumas put the world champions under immense pressure before Steve Hansen's side found another gear.
The likes of scrum-half TJ Perenara and prop Charlie Faumuina helped the All Blacks find that level and Read said it showed just how much depth was available to them.
"It was a real Test match, we had to work hard for it tonight," said Read. "We came out with intent and they matched it which is exactly what you want in these games. They're a quality side and it was a good game.
"I think we let them get a flow around the ruck. They got in behind us and we let the game drift a little bit in that area.
"But we're proud of the way we stuck at it. We haven't been in that situation too much as a group so we'll take a lot of lessons out of that.
"Our bench was outstanding for us tonight. We've got a squad of 32 who can do a job when they come on. The 23 was needed tonight and they did a great job."
All Blacks coach Hansen was happy with his side's reaction to the Pumas' challenge but was also frustrated with their first-half performance.
"I think we might have been reading our own press the way we played that first half," Hansen said. "The frustration we copped in that first half will be good for us because we will go away and learn that we need to prepare properly and turn up properly.
"They're a young side and there are going to be times when they hit road bumps and we hit one... and we came through it the other side.
"If we had struggled the entire game then I would have been more frustrated."
