If there's one person who understands the current plight of All Blacks coach Ian Foster, it's his predecessor Wayne Smith.
Despite ending a three-match losing run with the All Blacks' 35-23 victory over South Africa at Johannesburg, Foster's future as the head coach is still uncertain.
NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson has been unable to confirm one way or the other, neither supporting nor condeming Foster, but insisting clarity would come once the team had returned to New Zealand.
While no All Blacks coach in the professional era has ever been outright sacked, Smith resigned from the role in 2001, after a string of poor results against Australia saw New Zealand unable to regain the Bledisloe Cup.
After facing a public backlash against his position as All Blacks coach, Smith - now Black Ferns director of rugby - can put himself in Foster's shoes through the shared experience.
"I've got a lot of empathy," Smith said. "Obviously, I've been there myself back in 2001.
"It's difficult when you're under that huge pressure, I was a young coach as well at the time. It was really difficult.
"Taking the public criticism is difficult enough, [being] unsure of where your backing is always makes your job harder.
"I've got huge empathy."
But while NZ Rugby may end his tenure as All Blacks coach, Foster has the obvious support of his players.
Both captain Sam Cane and veteran Sam Whitelock fronted media in an unscheduled appearance, hammering home the belief in Foster.
For Smith, the messages out of the camp, combined with the All Blacks display should give Foster pride in what the side achieved at Ellis Park.
"I think it's pretty clear the players played for Ian Foster on the weekend," he continued.
"You don't get a performance like that without, I think it's a statement from the players.
"Where they go from here, I don't know, but whatever happens, I'm sure Fozzie will be pretty proud of that performance."
Smith also emphasises his understanding for the plight of NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson, who has come under fire for a bumbled media conference on Sunday night.
"It's hard to give certainty where there isn't any - and I always understood that when I was in the job.
"It's not like the CEO can say this or that, he's got a board to report to. It adds to the difficulty, but it's the way the situation is.
"We, as coaches - as tough as it is - have just got to handle it."
