The All Blacks have escaped the fish bowl of New Zealand but they remain under immense pressure as they prepare for back to back tests in South Africa to kick off their Rugby Championship title defence, with the first test in Mbombela on Sunday morning.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
One win should keep coach Ian Foster safe, for now, but two defeats could force New Zealand Rugby to give him the boot as next year's World Cup looms closer.
Captain Sam Cane is adamant there's "not a whole lot" they need to improve to get back into top form after four losses in their last five tests.
"It may seem like there's a lot to fix from the outside but in camp we have some clear focuses and often when you get those big things right a lot of the smaller things that may seem like issues sort themselves out."
Cane concedes their performances in the defeats to Ireland were unacceptable, but he's confident the tourists forward pack won't be bullied by the Springboks in the same way.
"It's important that we don't focus on all these things going wrong because the truth is there aren't a whole lot. With top teams, it is small margins in games.
"In the last test (third test against Ireland in Wellington) we lost by 10 points (32-22) but we let them score two rolling maul tries, which for an All Black pack is something we don't see as acceptable. Fix that and it is one big thing we have sorted out."
Sam Cane. Photo: Photosport
Foster and the All Blacks may have left Aotearoa but they can't sidestep the heavy scrutiny he and the team are under.
The head coach kept his job following the historic series defeat to the Irish but two of his assistants were sacked and New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson refused to endorse Foster beyond the Springbok tests in an interview with Newstalk ZB.
It's believed two losses in South Africa could result in Foster being removed before the rest of the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup.
"There's a bit of disappointment and frustration. But, we're all starting to put the blocks in place and we're really focused and determined to improve our game and it gives you great clarity when you come over here (South Africa) because you know the size of the challenge is going to be massive and you're going to have to give it everything.
"Much is made of the last series, but we were in the process of putting blocks in place. Did we get everything right? No, but we've got a lot of faith in areas where we want to grow our game. There are tweaks in attack we're working on, but some are just focus points we didn't get right in the last series."
Foster has made several changes to his starting XV with Caleb Clarke starting on the wing for his first test in two years.
Angus Ta'avao comes in at prop for George Bower, while veteran hooker Codie Taylor has been dropped from the matchday 23, with Samisoni Taukei'aho starting and Dane Coles on the bench.
"There's been a lot of reflection from our players, on their roles, their performances … it has created an edge in the week, and then you dovetail that with where we are and who we are playing and it's a great concoction," said Foster.
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Scott Barrett is back at lock alongside Sam Whitelock, who concedes the pressure to win is palpable.
He said the players must take responsibility for their recent poor form.
"The pressure cooker is still on...It actually falls onto us as players, we've got to go out there and perform. It doesn't matter who's coaching us, we've just got to go out and perform for 80 plus minutes."
The All Blacks find themselves in the rare position of being underdogs to beat the Springboks in Mbombela - in fact it's just the fourth time in more than 300 matches the TAB has the All Blacks to lose.
Springboks coach Jacques Neinaber wouldn't be drawn into the debate surrounding Foster's future, but he concedes further bad results could put the All Blacks coach on thin ice.
"In countries that have a rich rugby tradition like South Africa and New Zealand, there is always going to be pressure if you are a coach or a player. You are two poor games away from being dropped or two poor games away from being fired."
One thing is clear, the All Blacks must get better and any improvement will be tested by the world champion Springboks at altitude on Sunday morning.
