Coach Ian Foster left the All Blacks' post-Ellis Park celebrations to watch the second half of the Pumas-Wallabies Test and said Argentina looked good.
The All Blacks arrive home on Tuesday and have a break until the weekend before assembling in Christchurch to prepare for Argentina.
But they knew their win over South Africa was a starting point.
Foster said, "I was pleased with the way we dealt with the challenge. I'm pleased the team is growing through a bit of adversity.
"We wish the road was smooth all the time but, unfortunately, life does throw you a few curve balls. But, it's how you respond to that, and so we're working hard and [we] got some rewards."
Foster said he was proud of the Johannesburg performance.
"You always know you are going to get some obstacles here. You look at three [losses] in a row, and that's a bit of adversity that a lot of this group haven't had, including me.
"But we have to fix it. Our mindset is about trying to move on and grow the team.
"We've got an absolute goal for a Rugby World Cup at the end of next year, and in many ways, this needs to be the launching pad for that.
"I'm not resentful about anything that has happened in the last three weeks. I'm disappointed we lost, but I also think that we're using it the right way to fuel a team that's united, and has a growth mindset, and just wants to play for this country."
Foster had a sense of unfinished business with the team.
The win was not just about last week but about what they had done since getting together again after the Ireland series and working on clarifying aspects of their game.
"There's no doubt we had to move some aspects of our game. We've been pretty open in sharing that. But, rest assured, we work hard at trying to improve.
"I know we got told what we're doing wrong, but we're working hard inside our camp to improve.
"We're very proud at being part of this team, so the work we got last night was a reflection of a growth in a whole lot of aspects."
Foster said he expected to receive feedback after the trip and would assemble with the team in Christchurch.
Reflecting on the public and media pressure in the coaching role, he said it was something you got used to, but that was sad.
"I get used to the personal side, but that's the nature of the job. They're the distractions that I ask the players to put to one side."
It was the same when running out to play in front of a big crowd or when referees' decisions went against them. The players had to put those types of things to one side too.
"In all honesty, I think the playing group has probably been demanding that of me. 'Stop sulking, get on with it and do your job.' Sometimes, the answer is in the simplicity of that."
Foster said there was no manual for the coaching job. It was a case of trusting himself and the people he worked with and being open to all the ideas received while developing a plan.
He had done that while undergoing massive growth in the role.
"I'm a different coach to what I was 12 months ago. You've got to remember last year, we won 12 out of 13 games in a row, and no one was talking about us.
"So, what this team learns is when things go wrong you certainly hear it. It's how we deal with that."
Foster said the pressure on the side's midfield had been a concentration for the selectors since the start of the campaign, partly because of the need to establish combinations while also coping in the absence of players like Jack Goodhue and Anton Lienert-Brown.
They had introduced players in the front row in Saturday's win.
Forward coaches Greg Feek and Jason Ryan deserved pats on the backs for their work, and so did the forwards.
"When forwards don't get what they want in a Test match they are normally not nice to talk to for the next couple of days, and that's because they take it personal, and we've got massive quality in that pack but it needed to lift and it has lifted."