OPINION: While there's no shortage of opinion over the job security of All Blacks coach Ian Foster, can we please just pump the brakes a little?
Their historic 23-12 defeat to Ireland leaves the All Blacks in a precarious position, needing to bounce back - fast - if they're to take the series in Wellington this week.
And even if they can get up and lift the trophy on Saturday, two tests away to South Africa and even retention of the Bledisloe Cup against the Wallabies feel like a big ask at this exact moment.
But with four defeats from their last eight matches and three of those coming in the last four games, questions over Foster's position are only natural.
The All Blacks are now ranked fourth in the world - behind France, Ireland and South Africa - the lowest New Zealand has ever been.
With 16 wins from 23 matches since taking over from Sir Steve Hansen, Foster is - in terms of percentage - the second-worst All Blacks coach in the modern era.
Defeat at Sky Stadium this weekend would see him drop right to the bottom of the list, just a fraction below Laurie Mains.
NZ Rugby has never actually outright 'sacked' a coach before and doing so this close to the 2023 World Cup would be a huge risk.
Foster was given a contract extension last year, tasked with guiding the All Blacks to World Cup redemption in 2023, and while that may appear misguided to some, it seems very unlikely that his head will roll.
NZ Rugby has made this bed and now it must lie in it until 2023 at least.
As we've seen in plenty of other codes across the world, it's no good firing a coach, unless there's a better option immediately available.
Crusaders mastermind Scott Robertson is the most obvious replacement, after missing out to Foster after the 2019 World Cup.
The 47-year-old has only gone from strength to strength since and has won six Super Rugby titles in the past six years, to go with an U20 Rugby World Cup with the NZ 'Baby Blacks' and three NPC titles on the bounce with Canterbury.
Even if he was overlooked last time, NZ Rugby obviously believes Robertson has the chops to coach the All Blacks and has even given him an 'out' clause in his current contract, if he misses out for a second time.
The only issue is if - and it's a HUGE if - Foster was to go before next year's World Cup, would Robertson even want the job?
In 2019, Rassie Erasmus led the Springboks to victory at the World Cup in Japan, after taking over a side at a low point 18 months before.
Robertson would have even less time to turn this All Blacks side into the worldbeaters they once were.
To put it simply, Robertson taking the job (if it were available) before 2023 would leave him on a hiding to nothing at the next World Cup, especially given the nightmare draw that will see the All Blacks face France, South Africa or Ireland, if they're to even reach the final.
The All Blacks won't be in any worse shape post-2023 than they theoretically are at the moment, so Robertson is better to wait to build from the ground up, rather than attempt some sort of daring rescue mission.
Former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt is already with the All Blacks as a 'selector' for Foster, admirably stepping up in the first test's COVID disruption to guide the team before victory at Eden Park.
If Foster exits before France 2023, does it not seem more likely Schmidt would take the helm on a short-term basis at the very least, before passing the torch to the next man for the job - Robertson or otherwise - from 2024?
While it may hurt to write off the All Blacks' World Cup chances so soon, it may also be worth taking a bit of short-term pain for long-term gain.
Alex Powell is a Newshub digital sport producer
