New Zealand All Blacks brace for improving Argentina in La Plata

New Zealand are preparing for a greater test of concentration than last year in the Estadio Unico cauldron today with Argentina edging ever closer to a first win in the Rugby Championship.

The All Blacks had to recover from a disjointed start to last year's fixture in La Plata, 60 kilometres from Buenos Aires, before stamping their authority on the game and coming through to win 54-15.

The Pumas, however, are managing their run-in to the southern hemisphere's top international tournament better than in their debut season and feel fresher for the match against the holders and world champions.

Coach Santiago Phelan has sensibly rotated his squad and gave his players a week off after their efforts on the road in New Zealand, a 28-13 defeat, and Australia where they lost 14-13 two weeks ago.

"We didn't start as we wanted last year and made things tough for ourselves, [but] we played pretty well after that to get ourselves back in the game," New Zealand centre Conrad Smith said.

"We gave them points and got their crowd involved in the game, which makes it all tougher [so] we've just got to avoid that."

Fullback Israel Dagg said the Argentines would be inspired by playing in front of their own crowd.