Kiwi straight-shooter Steve Hansen says the All Blacks can lift 10 or 12 notches from their Bledisloe-opening draw but doubts whether the Wallabies can rise any further.

Hansen has reacted to the 12-12 Sydney stalemate like a loss and admitted widespread criticism of his team’s poor display was wholly warranted.

He said New Zealand needed to improve “just about everything” to continue their amazing 32-Test Eden Park streak on Saturday night.

AAP

“Our skills and our game structures were basically non-existent to where we want them to be,” Hansen said on Thursday morning.

“That’s the two key areas.”

Although it was the Wallabies who won the battle up front but failed to capitalise on enjoying 65 per cent of possession, the All Blacks coach doubted whether Australia could play much better in the return clash.

“I know we can. I don’t know how much they’ve got left to lift,” he said after making three changes to his starting team.

“There was plenty of criticism that was warranted last week. We just didn’t play well enough.”

“We have to be honest about that, and if we want to retain the Bledisloe Cup we have to go up 10 or 12 notches and get on with it.”

Hansen was not in the least surprised Australian coach Ewen McKenzie stuck with the same team for the first time in his 17-Test coaching reign.

“I think they were pretty satisfied with what they did last weekend so there wasn’t too many reasons for them to change it,” he said.

“You would hope (Australia see it as missed opportunity), they got 65 per cent of the ball, and if we didn’t win we’d be disappointed too, but having said that we are disappointed we didn’t win.”

Hansen blamed poor execution, a wonky platform up front and refereeing decisions for the error-ridden performance.

He revealed South African whistle-blower Jaco Peyper this week apologised for a string of short-arm scrum penalties against the Kiwi pack as well as the first-half yellow card to prop Wyatt Crockett.

The All Blacks must overcome the double blow of losing powerful stalwarts Jerome Kaino (elbow) and Ma’a Nonu (shoulder) to injury.

Flanker Liam Messam has been recalled to play his first game in five weeks while Ryan Crotty and Conrad Smith will form a new midfield combination.

Crotty underlined the All Blacks’ desire to atone by labelling their resolve this week as “second to none”.