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Steve Hansen AFP/Getty Images
the rugby championship

Hansen delighted with All Blacks three-peat

The All Blacks beat Argentina 34-13 in La Plata to get it done.

NEW ZEALAND COACH Steve Hansen hailed his side after they won the Rugby Championship for the third time in a row yesterday.

The All Blacks beat Argentina 34-13 in La Plata, with their bonus-point win enough to secure the title again. The result extended their unbeaten record to 22 Tests as captain Richie McCaw marked his record-equalling 133rd appearance in style.

Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, Julian Savea and TJ Perenara all scored tries for the All Blacks and Hansen was proud of his players afterwards.

“We’re very happy to win the trophy again and happy with the way we played,” Hansen said. ”You work all week for your game structures and skills to be shown on the park and we showed a great array of skills and the type of game we want to play.

“The Championship is an outcome because of those things going well.”

Skipper McCaw was relieved that the title had been sealed before next week’s trip to Johannesburg to face South Africa.

“It’s nice not to have to worry about bonus points or different permutations,” McCaw said. ”It will be a normal South African-All Blacks Test match and everything that comes with that.

“That’s exciting. We want to go play well and win.”

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