All Blacks uncircle the wagons

been good for us. It’s an awesome facility.’’

What’s more, the way the All Blacks have set themselves up at Ingwenyama further removes them from the outside world. Barriers are set up, with security on hand, preventing other guests at the resort from entering their zone, which includes the massive gymnasium, the training field, their own restaurant and several conference rooms. Even the pesky media staying at the facility are denied access, which must please the All Blacks a lot.

Right now their own company suits these All Blacks just fine. It is them against the world, and it must seem like the world has their number.

Foster is a coach under immense pressure. Somehow he has survived the first purge post-ireland, when his two senior assistants were both unceremoniously dumped, but while he was journeying to the republic his boss at NZ Rugby notably refused to endorse him beyond these twin tests.

Read into that what you will, but if public opinion and media sentiment are factored in, Foster is a sort of dead man walking, barring a dramatic turnaround over the next fortnight.

He has been spectacularly unsuccessful, losing seven of his 24 tests thus far, winning 16, with a draw. Worryingly, their record against fellow top-5 teams in the world is an abysmal 2-5.

Others, too, are under the gun. Skipper Cane has copped his fair share of criticism, both for his leadership and level of play, and he conceded this week that it had got somewhat feral. ‘‘It’s probably harder on loved ones,’’ he said of a strata of comment he tries to stay away from.

Other senior, normally reliable All Blacks have struggled for form, and, really, through July only the incomparable Ardie Savea and the dynamic Will Jordan could be truly proud of their body of work. There has been widespread recognition from the players since the Wellington defeat to Ireland that if this thing is to be turned around, the ball is very much in their court.

So, in a country where the siege was once an important warfare tactic, the All Blacks are very much a team which has circled the wagons, drawn themselves in tight, and determined to come out firing when they have to.

On Sunday, the All Blacks must uncircle the wagons and come out firing. Reality awaits, and defeat is frankly unthinkable.