RWC: Win was 'bloody ugly' but we're holding back - Hansen

Steve Hansen has admitted the All Blacks' 43-10 victory over Georgia was "bloody ugly" but says his team are holding back for fear of showing their hand too early.

The defending champions have a plan and will stick with it for their final pool match against Tonga in Newcastle next Saturday. And while the All Blacks' win over the Georgians at the Millennium Stadium was littered with unacceptable handling errors, the fact that they were intentionally putting pressure on themselves probably contributed to that.

"As we get closer to the quarter-final and it's sudden death, we'll bring our whole game," All Blacks coach Hansen said before the team's flight to the north east of England. "If we bring our whole game straight away everyone sees what we've got and that hasn't worked for us in the past.

"If you looked at how often we kicked the ball last night, or didn't kick the ball - it's not normal is it? And as a result of that the Georgians got a free shot. That put us under pressure and we have to learn to deal with that pressure because we're going to get pressure in the quarter-final and if we don't deal with it then we're going home.

"Everyone will feel frustrated because the job wasn't well done. There were times when we really felt the pressure. There were times when we couldn't get the ball away."

Hansen, who gave a positive injury report on both midfielder Sonny Bill Williams, who left the pitch for a head injury assessment but returned, and wing Waisake Naholo, who appeared to be limping before leaving after 50 minutes, said one of the most pleasing aspects of the performance was the way the All Blacks fought back from a tough 30 minutes when they didn't score a point.

"Was it easy to watch? No, it was bloody ugly, but ... we've got to get something out of it for us and it's not about the scoreboard it's about learning to play under pressure."

By not kicking the ball into space, the Georgians were able to bring enormous pressure to bear on first-five Dan Carter and midfielder Williams, and Hansen felt both would benefit from it. Another nod to the bigger picture was Victor Vito's move to the right wing.

Asked how the players felt about the tactics, lock Brodie Retallick said: "It's part of the learning and we're just excited that when the opportunity arises we can put it out on the park."

Image 1 of 12: All Blacks captain Richie McCaw before the Pool C match between New Zealand and Georgia. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Hansen reiterated his belief that having a so-called easier pool opponents in Argentina, Namibia, Georgia and Tonga was both an advantage and a disadvantage. The All Blacks might be forced to contrive ways to test themselves, but the likes of England, Wales and Australia in the Pool of Death don't have that luxury.

"If someone out of that pool goes all the way and wins they are the true world champions because they would have played the hardest opposition of anybody at the tournament. I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm saying it will be difficult. They will be a tired side by the end of it."

Georgia v All Blacks - Image slideshow

- By Patrick McKendry in Cardiff