DUNEDIN, New Zealand - All Blacks No.8 Kieran Read has emphasised the need for improved discipline when the unbeaten world champions play away Tests against Argentina and South Africa in the next few weeks.
The All Blacks sit comfortably atop the Rugby Championship ladder with four wins from four matches but they were first to admit they got a bit lucky in Saturday's 21-11 win over the Springboks in Dunedin.
The usually reliable Springboks' kickers succeeded with only two of nine attempts under the roof at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, with eight of the misses coming from penalties.
The All Blacks play the fast-improving Pumas in La Plata in two weeks before travelling on to the republic for their final game in the Rugby Championship against South Africa.
And Read acknowledged they could not afford to give away so many penalties again.
"We wanted to match them (Springboks) at the breakdown and be physical at the tackle and sometimes you get a bit on edge and are likely to be penalised," said Read.
"We have to be more disciplined so we'll work on that.
"It was awesome for us that their kickers missed a few.
"But we've got to make sure we're better than that and don't concede so many penalties next time.
"You look at the statistics and, if they had kicked them we could have been in trouble."
Read, 26, who has played in 42 Tests, said the Springboks and Pumas would present a major challenge in their own environment.
"The South Africans and Argentinians will both grow an arm and a leg at home," he said.