The All Blacks may be in for a rough ride in their World Cup opener against France on September 9 (NZ time).
While Tyrel Lomax is almost certain to be ruled out due to a gash on his leg, they'll have to make a strong case to keep Scott Barrett off the sidelines, after his red card against the Springboks on Saturday.
While Lomax is battered and clearly bruised, Foster is optimistic his first-choice tighthead will still feature in France.
It's likely to be a far more nervous wait for Barrett, though, who could be set for a spell on the sidelines.
He’ll face the judiciary on Monday evening after being marched for his shoulder-to-head contact on South Africa hooker Malcolm Marx during a ruck cleanout.
But Foster feels they have a strong case to make, given the red card was for a second yellow and was not upgraded by the bunker.
"The first yellow card was not for foul play, the second yellow card was a yellow card - it wasn’t a red card - and the judiciary fortunately don’t judge on the reaction of people of the opposition, they judge it on facts," Foster said.
Foster will do the same when judging the All Blacks performance - one where they were belted from pillar to post by the 'Boks.
Those reflections will happen at their upcoming camp in Germany. First on the agenda there - taking in France's warm up against the Wallabies.
"I've got Steve doing all the reconnaissance on that one," joked Foster, referring to his former colleague's dalliance with the enemy.
Foster will accept whatever insights he can, as the All Blacks go back to the drawing board before their blockbuster in Paris.
