The All Blacks are building depth in many positions, believes coach Steve Hansen, even if one of the stars of the show on Saturday night is on the injured list.
Hansen and his All Blacks secured the Bledisloe Cup for an 11th straight season with a 27-16 victory over the Wallabies in Wellington on Saturday night.
Down to his fourth-choice first five-eighth in Tom Taylor, Hansen said the increasing number of players he had to choose from was a real bonus.
''We have always set out to have enough depth in the group to cover the unexpected. We have got an environment that we work really hard on that allows people to fit in easily,'' he said.
''We have got some great leaders in our group ... it is not a complicated place and that makes people comfortable. That makes it easy for people to do what they are asked to do.''
Hansen confirmed first five-eighths Dan Carter and Beauden Barrett were likely to be in contention for the next test against Argentina on September 7. Aaron Cruden was a long shot to be available as he recovers from a knee injury.
New boy Taylor was yesterday scratched for up to three weeks with a rib injury.
Tighthead prop Owen Franks experienced pain in his groin after the test and Hansen said another prop will join the squad next week as cover, with Ben Afeaki or Jeffery Toomaga-Allen shaping as the potential new face.
Hansen said blindside flanker Liam Messam will also come in to consideration for the test in Hamilton as he recovers from a hamstring strain which has seen him miss the past two tests.
Messam was hardly missed on Saturday night as Steven Luatua produced a storming performance in just his second test.
Taylor also earned high praise for his debut performance.
''He was outstanding, considering the circumstance when he came into the team,'' Hansen said.
Hansen said the All Black set piece in the end dominated, but the biggest factor in the win was to make the most of the opportunities that came along.
''When we had opportunities we scored tries. I think we only missed two or three the whole night, while they created opportunities but did not take them, apart from the intercept. You have to take points when they are there in big games and we were lucky enough to do that.''
He also praised the scrambling defence of the home team, saying right to the end it never gave in, and that led to the Wallabies battling to get across the tryline, apart from the intercept try to winger Israel Folau near the end.
The All Blacks scored just two tries in the match, but pulled away through penalties from Taylor in the middle stages of the game.
The breakdown was messy throughout and halfback Aaron Smith received little protection from his forwards in the first quarter.
All Black skipper Richie McCaw said he knew the Australians would bring more intensity to their breakdown work, and the side started out too slow in and around the rucks.
The squad would now disband for a week and would come together next weekend to prepare for the match against Argentina in Hamilton.