When asked if he reckoned he had done enough to retain the No15 jersey for the clash at the Cake Tin Dagg, 26, gave a diplomatic reply.
"It's up to the coaches.
"I just have to keep my feet on the ground and continue to work hard.
"But it was neat to be back playing with the boys and I'm thankful to have the opportunity to play at home."
He added he was "pretty happy to put in some constructive kicks and have the opportunity to get excited on the counter attack."
Hansen said Dagg played with a lot of enthusiasm and accuracy.
"Apart from one knock on the rest of his game was very tidy. I was very happy with his kicking game and it puts a bit more pressure on when we sit down to sort out our back three for next week.
"Someone who is a very good player will miss out."
Hawke's Bay Rugby Union president and former All Black Blair Furlong believed Dagg had secured a starting berth for Wellington.
"That back three worked pretty well.
"It would be nice to see him start again."
Dagg's Magpies teammate and Hurricanes prop Ben Franks can be equally proud of his contribution.
He took the field as a 65th-minute replacement for his brother, Owen.
"It was good to get on the field and help bring it home during the last few minutes."
Franks pointed out the ABs scrum has been slowly building and was "pretty consistent" against the Pumas.
"All the good teams have gone up a level with their scrummaging and to do what we did was very enjoyable."
Like Dagg, Franks, opted to "leave it to the coaches" when quizzed on his chances of remaining in the 23 for this weekend.
"I didn't play in the series against England so it's important I make the most of my opportunities when I get them."
Former Magpies lock Brodie Retallick again enhanced his reputation as the best player on the planet with a massive workrate.
His deft unloads, physicality at the breakdown and ability to snaffle loose ball on the ground and in the air left lasting impressions.
Retallick was close behind Savea in the battle for player-of-the-match honours. Savea's two tries, brutal defence, safe hands under the high ball, accurate kick chase and 94 metres gained from nine carries got him the nod.
"It was my ability under the high ball rather than the two tries which I am most proud of," Savea said afterwards.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said to get four tries as well as keep the Pumas tryless in conditions like Saturday night's was "pretty pleasing."
"It was always going to be a bit scrappy.
"There were patches when we could have looked after the ball better."
"Argentina came to play and put pressure around the contact area."
McCaw praised the impact of his bench players.
Midfield back Malakai Fekitoa was the only sub who didn't get game time.
The Pumas finished better than the All Blacks on the panelbeating front.
All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock is expected to be unavailable for the next four weeks with a rib injury and flanker Liam Messam for three to four weeks with a quad injury.
It will be interesting to see if Hansen opts for Steven Luatua in Messam's absence or a flankers combo of McCaw and Sam Cane.
Hansen said he and his fellow selectors have a reasonable idea of what they are going to do but he didn't want to let the Boks camp know this early in the week.
He is expecting the Boks to be fired up after their 24-23 loss to the Wallabies.
The Boks midfield back Jean de Villiers 100th game will also provide plenty of motivational ammunition.
Match Stats:
• All Blacks 28 (Julian Savea 2, Aaron Smith, Liam Messam tries; Beauden Barrett, Colin Slade pens; Slade con) Pumas 9 (Nicolas Sanchez 3 pens). HT: 13-6.
• Turning point: All Blacks winger Julian Savea's second try in the 44th minute when first five-eighth Beauden Barrett took the ball to the line. It gave the ABs an 18-6 lead and the pressure on the Pumas intensified.
• Heartstopper: Pumas No 8 Leonardo Senatore's disallowed try in the 57th minute. French referee Pascal Gauzere ruled he had knocked the ball on when charging down a kick from Ma'a Nonu. Had the try been awarded the Pumas would have been trailing by five or seven points.
• Player of the match: Savea. Two tries to take his tally to 26 from 25 tests and a gain of 94m from his nine carries. Flawless under the high ball and brutal on the tackle. His only knock on came after the final whistle.
