Another loss? Don’t even think about it

A loss to Argentina in Newcastle wouldn’t just be a metaphorical punch in the mouth for the All Blacks.

It would be much worse. Try, for example, a prolonged verbal clobbering as the frustrated New Zealand rugby public vent their dissatisfaction during the summer months ahead.

The ramifications of a loss tonight could potentially cost coach Ian Foster his job, if NZ Rugby has the courage to react to the All Blacks’ worst season since 1998.

Egos, in all corners of NZ Rugby, will be more than bruised if the All Blacks stumble at McDonald Jones Stadium, leaving them with just two wins from six tests. They will be a horrible mess.

And, to think, almost 12 months ago Foster had been beaming with joy after securing the All Blacks coaching job, the position he so badly wanted. Those were far happier times for Foster, who was contracted to the end of 2021, and NZ Rugby.

Despite Foster not having won a Super Rugby title during his eight-year tenure at the Chiefs, NZ Rugby was convinced he had the skills to replace predecessor

Sir Steve Hansen, assisted from 2012.

Foster’s appointment wasn’t universally popular and it meant Scott Robertson, who had snared three titles in as many seasons with the Crusaders as well as a clutch of championships with Canterbury and the NZ under-20

the man he

team, had to be rejected.

The only way for Foster and his skipper Sam Cane to silence critics was to win test matches: now, here we are, about 50 weeks down the track, with Foster and Cane securing just two wins, two losses and a draw during a season thrown into turmoil because of

Covid-19.

The All Blacks don’t just need a win over Argentina in this Tri Nations match, their final game of 2020. They must do so in a convincing manner, to wash away the memories of earlier losses.

Successive defeats to the Pumas and Wallabies, the former a first-ever loss to the South Americans, have left Foster and Cane with their feet being held over the flickering flames.

As they should be. Under Foster and Cane the All Blacks have also slipped to third in the World Rugby rankings. While the Bledisloe Cup is safe, and they could win the Tri Nations, the All Blacks have been an unconvincing lot under the new regime.

NZ Rugby, already facing a financial loss in the vicinity of $40 million due to Covid-19, badly needs the flagship team to shine because the All Blacks brand is so important when it comes to securing and maintaining commercial deals.

Following the 25-15 loss to the Pumas in Sydney a fortnight ago, Foster put on a brave face; unlike Cane, who criticised a section of fans for their lack of knowledge, Foster has accepted supporters have a right to be critical and annoyed.

Foster is street smart enough to know that excuses won’t wash at a time like this.

Some may say being based in Australia for over a month has been a hardship for the All Blacks, but the reality is professional rugby players are well paid and at a time when Covid-19 is ripping apart families, communities and businesses. The All Blacks have little to complain about.

Under Hansen the All Blacks never suffered consecutive defeats. This underscores two things: that Hansen was a coach of great ability, and that this job has never been easy. Foster now understands how tough it can be.