OPINION: Yes all the noise, the pressure, the public scrutiny and the angst has been directed at Ian Foster over the past few tests.
His future is on the line in Johannesburg, there are no two ways about it.
A 60 percent win record - and five losses in his past six tests - doesn't make for pretty reading, and with that in mind, even a win is unlikely to be enough to save Foster from being the first All Blacks head coach to be fired in the professional era.
None of the criticism and conjecture towards Foster is personal.
He's a good bloke, who's well liked in this All Blacks team. I'm told he's played a huge role in turning around the culture with the environment, but this is test rugby and test rugby is a results-based business.
Foster simply hasn't delivered them and it seems near impossible that will change at the Mecca of South African rugby this weekend.
But while much of the noise is about Foster's future, there are several other shortcomings this All Blacks team must begin to address.
Breakdown issues
The breakdown continues to be a problem area, where the All Blacks are constantly beaten to the punch and outmuscled by a far-superior Springboks pack.
This used to be one of the jewels in the All Blacks crown - think Jerome Kaino shifting bodies like they were made of twigs. They must find a way to become the dominant force they once were at the breakdown.
Same goes for the scrum. A front row of George Bower, Samisoni Taukei'aho and Angus Ta'avao hardly had the 'Boks shaking in their boots - although Taukei'aho was the All Blacks' best player by far at Mbombela and is a bright spot to come out of Foster's tenure.
If the All Blacks can’t once again start to find some control - I won't say dominance, because against this Springboks pack, that ain't happening) - then they’ll find themselves backpedalling for 80 minutes once again.
Attacking force
Lastly, the attack must fire. It seems an easy fix to simply give yourself more time and space against rush defence by playing deeper on the ball, but the All Blacks backline hasn't been able to do that.
Attacking behind the gain-line against the Springboks is only going to end one way and that's in defeat.
Fixing those issues is unlikely to save Foster's job, but it will go a long way to getting this All Blacks team even remotely close to being back in the right direction.
Ollie Ritchie is Newshub's rugby reporter
