Struggling All Blacks to rein in all-out attacking 'DNA': Foster

Struggling New Zealand must defy the "All Blacks DNA" of all-out attacking rugby and play a more conservative game, coach Ian Foster declared on Sunday, saying the team can no longer rely on a ball-in-hand style.

Saturday's 25-18 Rugby Championship loss to a belligerent Argentina in Christchurch was the All Blacks' sixth defeat in eight Tests and a historic first win on New Zealand soil for the Pumas.

It came just 10 days after New Zealand Rugby's board unanimously voted to retain the under-fire Foster as coach until the end of the 2023 World Cup.

Foster said it was apparent that under the current rules teams had become adept at shutting down expansive rugby, contributing to New Zealand's slide.

The Pumas won despite playing with less than 40 percent possession and territory, content to slow down New Zealand's ruck ball and erect a defensive wall that made 195 tackles - more than double that of the home side.

For all their opportunities, New Zealand crossed just twice while Argentina wing Emiliano Boffelli slotted six penalties and converted his team's try.

"We've done a lot of research on games we've lost over the last 10 years and there's a similar pattern that we like to hold on to the ball and try to run our way out of trouble," Foster told journalists on Sunday.

"Argentina stayed in the game and we sort of stuck to an All Blacks DNA, we tried to play, and carry our way through a really strong defensive line. We need to look at our response to teams that want to stifle us."

New Zealand have been ranked the world's number one side for much of the last 20 years, mainly due to an expansive game, instinctive try-scoring and a willingness to keep the ball alive.

Foster said it will be difficult for players to change lifelong