Ian Foster admits he needs to bring a fresh approach to his new role as the All Blacks head coach.
On Wednesday, the 54-year was confirmed as the successor to Steve Hansen, whom he'd assisted since 2012.
Foster is keen to wipe the slate clean when he takes the helm, as the team looks to move on from the disappointment of their semi-final exit at the World Cup in Japan.
"It's been eight years with the All Blacks, I've learned a lot, but I need to take my own ideas," Foster said.
"We need to grow, we need to tweak. We didn't get what we wanted in the semi-final at the World Cup.
"There's a massive opportunity for us to go forward with an open mind. I can't wait for that."
The former Chiefs coach wants to reinstall some of the "mana" lost in their capitulation at the hands of the English that night in Yokohama.
To do that, Foster said he'd also need to "reinvent" himself and win back the public's trust.
"Now is the time for me to show what I have - that I'm innovative - and to show that we have that mana that we feel we might have lost on the field," he added.
While Foster seemed destined to fill the departing Hansen's shoes, the outcry for a seachange at the top was loud, when the All Blacks returned from Japan empty-handed.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson became an increasingly popular choice to bring an injection of youth and innovation to the set-up.
While Foster brushed off any suggestion he had a rite of passage to the job, he confessed that he'd seen that semi-final exit as damaging to his chances.
"In the back of my mind, I was thinking, 'Is that going to cost you?'
"But I don't think the continiuty thing is an advantage or disadvantage, because if you go in there and just try to copy and paste what you've done, you've got no chance."
While Robertson came in second in a two-horse race, Foster acknowledged him as an "outstanding candidate".
"I knew that they'd have a great plan on the other side with Scott, and I knew he'd come really well prepared and offer a really good choice.
"It really came down to feeling at peace with what we had to offer."
Four assistant coaches will join Foster, but he wasn't able to confirm them, as they worked through contractual hurdles.
The group is believed to have played a significant part in Foster's appointment and speculation suggests it will consist of Hurricanes coach John Plumtree, and former All Blacks Greg Feek, Scott McLeod and David Hill.
Former Crusaders assistant Brad Mooar also appears to be in the mix.
"I've prepared a coaching group that I'm excited by and I can't wait to tell you about. There's some fresh voices in there to look at what we're doing and add some spice.
"They were a big part of a pitch and are a big part of the group - I coach as part of a group. There's a bit of experience, but also quite a bit of youth in the group coming in."
