All Blacks number eight Kieran Read has refused to get carried away with his side's unbeaten run in the Rugby Championship.
New Zealand have won four from four in the tournament, with their 14th consecutive Test win coming against South Africa in Dunedin over the weekend.
Replacement scrum-half Aaron Smith scored New Zealand's decisive try in Saturday's 21-11 that kept the world's top-ranked side undefeated. The All Blacks lead the championship with 16 points ahead of Australia (eight), South Africa (seven) and Argentina (three).
New Zealand are a win away from securing the inaugural Rugby Championship trophy, but Read emphasised the upcoming Tests against Argentina and South Africa overseas would be tough assignments.
The All Blacks play the Pumas in La Plata in two weeks and then move on to the Republic to play the Springboks in Johannesburg.
"The South Africans and Argentinians will both grow an arm and a leg at home," Read told Sportal.
"The Pumas are improving very quickly and it's going to be a tough road trip for us. We're going to have to be right on our game to match them.
"But I think our team is not far away from clicking and really putting in a good performance."
The All Blacks were helped in Dunedin by the poor goal-kicking of the Springboks, who kicked just two of nine attempts. And 26-year-old Read, who has played 42 Tests, said it was fortunate for the All Blacks that the South African kickers were off target.
"You've got to be very disciplined in every Test you play," Read said.
"I guess the penalties meant we didn't get as much territory as we would have wanted.
"We wanted to match them at the breakdown and be physical at the tackle and sometimes you get a bit on edge and likely to be penalised. We have to be more disciplined so we'll work on not conceding so many penalties."
While the match was physical and the result hung in the balance throughout, it was again of the low quality that has so far bedevilled the Rugby Championship.
South Africa could and probably should have won the match: it had the possession and the opportunities to do so but, apart from Bryan Habana's superb try in the 48th minute, lacked discipline and precision in attack.
The Springboks kicked away a slew of valuable possession, offering counter-attacking chances to the All Blacks' dangerous back three. But while the All Blacks were strong under the high ball throughout the match, they struggled to create coherent attacking play against a combative Springboks defence.
"It wasn't exactly what we wanted. We've got to ensure we're better than that and don't concede so many penalties," said Read.
"You look at the statistics and, if they had kicked their goals, we could have been in trouble.
"But it was very satisfying to win. It was a really tough game. They really brought it to us physically."
Comments
sandal says...
@ tuffnut and Tamjon
I tend to agree that defence has tightened this year. As it did last year from the year before.
A thing of note about the NZ-SA test in Dunedin was that, though there were 13 penalty shots at goal, only one, possibly two, were for an offence committed inside the 22. That is extraordinary discipline, whatever the performance between the 22s.
@ The Truth Hurts
NZ's travel burden in some years was far worse than anything SA endured. Just look at the map. SA never had the equivalent of NZ's trips to SA and then back to Oz. Even if SA went to NZ and then returned home to play Oz (and I'm not sure they ever did), so what? Oz would have been travelling to SA for that match as well.
Super Rugby was a different affair, however -- up to five games on the trot in NZ and Oz was very tough. Not that that was any excuse for the Bulls' terrible road record.
Posted 13:53 20th September 2012
TheTruthHurts says...
All the travelling this year appears much fairer and makes more sense since the Pumas have been included which is great! I think SA suffered the worst over all the previous years, so thankfully it seems to be more even now!
@Trinats(2) please just shut up! Even us Aussies are sick of your tripe!?
Posted 12:16 20th September 2012
philipjfry says...
@Trader2: Again, a misinterpreted post. I have no interest in providing Trinats with credibility, I have my own to look out for. But I'll take the compliment at the end with gusto.
Posted 16:25 19th September 2012
Trader2 says...
philipjfry
Thanks for pointing out the possibility that Trinats2 was actually being truthful for once - but nah, doesn't wash , sorry he has too much form. He made a point that one visit to NZ was enough, please stop trying to give credability to Trinats2 he has been caught out too often and not just by Kiwi's.
Anyway I am glad we have found someone that is able to interpret Trinats2 posts, you will be a valuable source in the future.
Posted 14:55 19th September 2012
philipjfry says...
@Trader2: 'Now he has been to NZ "many times", yet in a post earlier this year he stated having been to Auckland once and couldn't get out quick enough.'
This is a bad example of how to interpret another persons post, something which quite a few Kiwis really struggle with. Auckland is a one city on a much larger island, so Trinats may have been to Auckland once but maybe, just maybe he has visited other parts of New Zealand on more than one occasion.
Posted 09:53 19th September 2012
Tamjon says...
@Tuffnut - I tend to agree with you. I think the defensive systems of all 4 teams have played a major role in the lack of tries. This is why I am looking forward to the end of year northern tours, I think NZ, SA & Oz will be able to unleash against some poor unsuspecting Northern nations and run up some big scores. No offence intended to our northern neighbours, but it's just the way I see it going.
Posted 07:24 19th September 2012
Trader2 says...
Trinats2
Now he has been to NZ "many times", yet in a post earlier this year he stated having been to Auckland once and couldn't get out quick enough. The Pearly Gates will be closed to you, St Peter does not like little fibbers, especially Wannabie supporters.
Posted 23:24 18th September 2012
BillyMutt2 says...
Trinats2: No issues mate, and no offense taken - I don't live in any of those three fine countries any longer. But I remain a committed SH rugby supporter, and will always support any SH team (including the Wallabies) over the fluff they play up north :).
Posted 18:22 18th September 2012
tuffnut says...
@philipjfry - "I agree with Trinats, the Wallabies aren't hard enough for the real world." - LoL
@Saffastormer - apart from Greyling, I think HM is nearly spot on with his forwards at least. A couple of tweaks in the backs, i.e. Goosen, return of JP Pieterson improved/review execution of game plan and will be a completely different picture.
@PR - "low quality" test matches? One could argue that the increase in quality of the defensive systems has successfully nullified teams abilities to attack as easily and in fact it could be the previous years which were "lower in quality" with poorer defensive systems. Of course with the greater number of tries scored in the past one could argue that they were greater "viewing spectacles"? I guess a comparison of match statistics looking at handling errors, tackles missed/made etc across previous years might shed some light on this?
Posted 12:03 18th September 2012
hellovanite says...
Trinats2... yeah right!
Posted 10:44 18th September 2012
sandal says...
@Trinats
Of course all teams have to travel. And the travel is even. But under the old, three-team competition it wasn't always even.
For instance, Wallabies travelling to NZ and then to South Africa is 14 time zones over two weeks.
NZ travelling to South Africa and back to Australia is 22 times zones over two weeks.
Spot the difference?
As to whether Australia choose to play their home matches in Perth or on the east coast, that's their business and no one else's.
Posted 07:38 18th September 2012
cuw3100 says...
LOL TRINATS 2 : ".....If it's a disadvantage to anyone it's the Wallabies, who have to leave Australia to travel to third world countries !!! ..."
Definitely explains why Australia finished 10TH on the medals table at LONDON OLYMPICS 2012, behind such 3rd world nations as People's Republic of China, Great Britain, Russian Federation, Republic of Korea, Germany, France....
Puts things into perspective , doesn't it LOL.
Am sure u r trying to wind up the KIWIS, becoz both South Africa and Argentina are members of the G20 ( i.e. the major 20 economies of the world - which excludes them from being a 3rd world country ).
But bully for Australia - it is not a member of the G8, which represents some of the largest economies in the world (though not by numbers as China and Brazil are not part of it).
In fact Australia is the 13th ranked economy by GDP (it could move up to 12 if the EU is broken down) so dont feel so smug mate :)
cheers
Posted 07:25 18th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
"Aus have a "home game" in Perth against SA and then away to NZ that's 8 hours"
Do the Australians need a hug for traveling 8 long and painful hours all the way from Perth to Auckland with only 7 days rest and without their Mummys to hold their hands?
It's surprising, I thought they'd be used to it considering most Australian players had to travel at least that far from the countries' of their birth.
Nevertheless, if they are struggling with the travel , I have to ask why their administration would choose to play a home game in Perth when they have to travel a whopping 8 hours all the way across Australia to Auckland! Third world planning right there, straight brains to go with the yellow tops.
And third world countries are awesome to visit Trinats, you should get out and see the world, no need to be scared.. brown people don't really bite, despite what Pauline says.
Posted 02:37 18th September 2012
porridge_time says...
Trinats2 says...
Stop playing games in Perth then!
Posted 01:43 18th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
BillyMutt2:
Not intended to come across that way. I too have lived in SA and been to NZ many times. Apologies.
Posted 23:52 17th September 2012
BillyMutt2 says...
NZ and SA are third world countries Trinats2? That's a bit rich coming from an Australian - I know, I've spend time in all three countries.
OK to wind up people as usual but be careful not to cross the line, that came across as very arrogant.
Posted 16:00 17th September 2012
philipjfry says...
@Trinats2: 'If it's a disadvantage to anyone it's the Wallabies, who have to leave Australia to travel to third world countries !!!'
I agree with Trinats, the Wallabies aren't hard enough for the real world.
Posted 15:11 17th September 2012
saffastormer says...
"Read expects tough road trip"
Perhaps on the plane and busses but definitely not on the rugby pitch in SA if HM keeps up his laughable team selection. Sad really because besides the Republics obvious frustration with the Boks, I'm sure the AB's would much prefer tougher opposition from their 'traditional' rivals than the wet towel they're getting at the moment.
Posted 14:57 17th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
sandal:
ALL three teams have to travel ??? It's home and away games !!! Not just NZ.
Wallabies have had to travel to NZ then to SA.
Even to fly from Brisbane/Sydney to Perth is 5 hours and that's just in Australia for a home game, Auckland is only 3 !!!
Aus have a "home game" in Perth against SA and then away to NZ that's 8 hours !
If it's a disadvantage to anyone it's the Wallabies, who have to leave Australia to travel to third world countries !!!
Posted 14:28 17th September 2012
melkdave says...
KR is right it is going to be a totally different game in Argentina and SA .New Zealand i feel will have to play better than they have so far,to continue their wining run imo.So far they havent looked as slick in the backs as they normally are ,and have seemed to struggle for parts of the games to get going /and impose themselves.
Posted 12:41 17th September 2012