Hansen was naturally pleased with the 22-0 win over the Wallabies at Eden Park but felt there was still a lot of potential left in his side.
With the win, the All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup for another year, and have now had it in possession since 2003.
"Two weeks ago we set out a plan on how to retain the cup and we have done that.
"We were probably half an inch away from a performance that we could be really, really proud of," Hansen said.
"We should be proud of the way we defended and we worked really well in that area.
"The scoreline did the Australians no favours but they scrambled hard and worked hard on defence.
"There was nothing wrong with their attitude as that is what defence is about."
The Australians did get through plenty of work on defence but that was helped by an All Black attack which misfired at times.
Hansen admitted the side could have done better on attack.
"We made some bad decisions at times.
"There could have been one more pass or hanging on to the pass when it was not on to move it on.
"We put them under a lot of pressure at times but we did not use the ball to finish off."
The test was the last - for the time being - for Sonny Bill Williams.
Hansen said the big second five-eighth had made huge strides in the past 12 months.
He said his game had developed hugely, in a similar fashion to former All Black lock Brad Thorn.
"This year he has been in scintillating form for the Chiefs and in test match rugby he has been in outstanding form. It is a real shame he is going.
"We understand why he is looking forward and we hope he makes a decision to come back as soon as he can."
Williams said he had learned a lot about the game in the past couple of years. He would miss his team-mates and the help they had given him over the period he had been in the game.
He was not ruling out a return to the black jersey, but one gets the feeling Williams himself does not know what the future holds.
"When you make firm friendships it is always tough to leave.
But who knows?
" Williams said.
"When I first came into the team, Jerome Kaino said to me that you are only a caretaker of the jersey and that you make it better when you leave it than when you receive it."
Hansen declined to say what sort of pressure he would be under if he fashioned the same sort of record his opposite Robbie Deans has racked up against the All Blacks.
Deans has three wins and 14 losses against the All Blacks, but deflected all talk of resigning on Saturday night.
Deans said it was about the team, and moving on to face South Africa in Perth in two weeks.
Criticism after losing was the nature of the industry, he said.
He pointed out the Wallabies had just taken on the No 1 team in the world.
He felt no side would have beaten the All Blacks on Saturday night, and they had moved on since the World Cup last year.
"That was an outstanding performance from the All Black team. They have the confidence of being the world champion and no side in the world would have been able to foot it with them," Deans said.
The All Blacks now disband for a week before coming together to prepare to meet Argentina in Wellington on September 8.
