Although Laidlaw wasn’t in charge of the team in 2016, memories of its failure to medal at the Rio Olympics remain fresh for those who watched the highly-fancied team limp into fifth place. The match against Australia was an opportunity for the New Zealanders to crank-up the heat on themselves after six tries - along with a few missed tackles - were features of their effort against Argentina. Laidlaw described the tough workout against the Aussies as “perfect ’ ahead preparation for a knockout game. “I think Argentina was the same,’ he told Sky Sport. “We ran away with it a little bit in the end, but we understand that s sevens.
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