Steve Hansen bemoaned “dumb footy” and his side’s poor discipline after the All Blacks crashed to the Wallabies in their biggest ever defeat.
Hansen targeted his side’s lack of composure and smarts in Perth while also complimenting Australia on their win, saying they’d been ruthless in exploiting the fact the All Blacks were down a man for the entire second half.
Lock Scott Barrett became just the fourth All Black in history to be sent off when he led with a shoulder into the head of Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper.
Barrett could face up to a suspension of up to six matches, adding an absence of available locks to an ever-growing list of headaches for Hansen in the final weeks before the World Cup.
The All Blacks have lost to Australia, drawn with South Africa and only downed Argentina by four points this winter.
"I am obviously disappointed, Australia played particularly well and deserved the win,” Hansen said.
They were the best side on the day and the red card didn’t help us, but we didn’t help ourselves either.
"Our discipline was poor. We missed 20 tackles out of 90 in the first half. We didn’t get ourselves away to a good start. We double piggy-backed them into the red card and we were offside when we didn’t need to be. They’re all things we have to go away and fix up.”
Hansen praised the Wallabies for their ability to make the most of their extra player by scoring five second-half tries, saying it would be how he’d expect the All Blacks to perform in the same scenario.
"Australia gave us a lesson in what to do when you have a side down by one man. They did what we’d expect to do if we were playing a team with only 14,” he said.
"If you are going to get a red card the hardest team you can get one against is a team who wants to play footy and Australia wanted to play fast.
"In the end they found more space than we could cover. Which is a credit to them.
"I know the scoreboard is fairly massive. 47 points.
"It’s not often we get that many scored against us. But at 16-12 we are in the game at halftime and then we get a red card and it’s a differer game.
"I don’t think we can beat ourselves about the defence in the second half. There was plenty of effort, we just played a team who was very good at finding the space."
Asked if he was happy with the explanation given by referee Jerome Garces for red carding Barrett, Hansen said: "Regardless of whether I was happy (with the explanation) or not, it was his decision to make and he made it and now we go to a process and we will have to live with it. We have to go away and have a good look at the video."
Hansen said the All Blacks would resist panic and respond in the second Bledisloe on Saturday in Auckland.
"It’s a big game. It’s always a big game. We have been here before, we were here in 2015,” Hansen said.
