All Blacks coach Steven Hansen confident his players will respond well to the Argentine atmosphere

Steven Hansen.
Steven Hansen. Photo credit: Getty Images

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is confident his young side can handle the pressure of playing in front of a noisy Buenos Aries crowd ahead of their Rugby Championship test-match against the Pumas.

Thursday's team announcement saw the inclusion of six players in the run-on side with less 33 caps between them, with potential debutant, David Havili named on the bench.

Hansen believes the amount of travel that rugby players have to do now days allows them to adjust to the environment and conditions a lot better than previously.

"I just think they get exposed to it more often, like in the old days, we didn't come here every year, so you didn't experience that and younger guys through that exposure are getting more experience and how to handle it a lot quicker," Hansen said.

"The world is a different place I guess when the likes of myself and others were playing."

Earlier in the week, many of the squad attended a football game featuring Argentine giants, River Plate, which Hansen believes will give the inexperienced players an idea of what they can expect Sunday morning.

"The home crowd will be boisterous and passionate and just you know, themselves," Hansen said.

"We went to the soccer, or some of the guys went to the soccer on Sunday and they experienced that."

"You know, we've got eight guys who haven't been here before, so a lot of them went and what I do know is the only way you can keep the crowd out of it is by playing well, they'll quiet down a bit."

Hansen admits that while they're focused on giving the passionate crowd little to cheer about, they do certainly enjoy the buzz Argentine fans are known for creating.

"Our aim is to keep them quiet, but you know, it's creates an atmosphere which is really unique and one that we enjoy," Hansen said.

The All Blacks coach is also adamant that Velez Sarsfield Stadium can live up to their past experiences and expectations of playing in La Plata.

"Is it as good as stadium as La Plata? Maybe not," Hansen said.

"But it's still got a lot of history with it and it's not the stadium that matters, it's the opposition that matters and what you bring to the occasion yourself."

"So I don't care where we play, as long as we're playing someone."

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