Probably no-one feels the agony of the All Blacks' emotional rollercoaster this year more than captain Sam Cane.
While his team bounce from one historic defeat to another, with the occasional soaring performance to lift expectations, before plummeting again to another stomach-churning loss, Cane, 30, finds himself under constant scrutiny - even more than under-seige coach Ian Foster.
For 80 minutes each week, Foster can do little to change the course of the contest, except ride each twist and turn in the coaches box, while the spotlight burns hotly on his skipper trying to inspire his teammates to find another level.
As predecessors Richie McCaw and Kieran Read seemed to do so effortlessly...
His own personal performance is also subject to intense debate, with many insisting Cane's presence on the field is keeping the country's best openside flanker - presumably Dalton Papalii - in the stands.
After putting his head into dark places it simply doesn't belong and having the rug pulled out from under him with 15 minutes to go, the captain must then front up for an instant analysis of what went wrong for TV, without sounding like a scratched record.
Apologies for the outdated cultural reference.
How can you explain the transition from a triumph like Ellis Park to the torment of OrangeTheory Stadium?
"The highs and lows of professional sport... it's real," said Cane. "The highs of something like that [victory over the Springboks] to the lows of last week just tests your resilience and your character.
"You have to pick yourself back up and focus on what's important, and go again. There's no point in sulking or dwelling on things, but when you put all your energy into things you can control, that helps.
"You've just got to front up and own it."
Personally, Cane's substitution with the Argentina defeat still up for grabs - not for the first time this season - only fuels speculation over his role in the starting line-up. He admits the early exit was not planned.
"That wasn't pre-talked about or pre-determined," he said. "It wasn't anything to do with me, but I back the coaches when they make a decision to sub someone, whether that's me or anyone else.
"They're doing it with the best interests of the team at heart and that's how decisions are made in this team. I don't take it personally, by any means."
One of the strengths of this particular All Blacks squad is the depth of leadership within its ranks. Last year, while Cane recovered from injury, Foster shared the captaincy among Sam Whitelock, Ardie Savea, Brodie Retallick and Aaron Smith, while Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor, Beauden Barrett and Papalii have also led their Super Rugby sides.
So while Cane's departure shouldn't detrimentally affect his team's direction, it does raise questions over his dispensability as a player.
Raising the level or changing the course of team performance in the heat of battle has proved particularly problematic for Cane and his lieutenants this year, with lessons seemingly slowly learnt.
"We have more of a rev up if our attitude isn't right, but the eagerness and intent was right there... it was almost too much," he said. "Trying to remind each other, help each other out, particularly with those offside lines.
"Some of the breakdown stuff was real 50/50 and we've got to be smarter, so the referee doesn't come into play there. We talk about it, for sure, but it's making sure we can execute it."
Indiscipline hurt the All Blacks dearly against the Pumas, allowing the opposition to stay in a game, despite initial set-piece dominance that was gradually eroded away as the contest progressed.
"It's definitely a statistic we've highlighted that, when we do lose, the opposition kick a lot of penalties from our own indisicipline.
"When you become frustrated on the field for whatever reason, pressure can force individuals to do things they don't want to do, because they're trying to make a play, and they care and want a good result.
"Sometimes, that's an overplaying thing that can have a detrimental affect on what you're trying to achieve."
The balance between intent and indiscipline has been difficult to nail for these All Blacks.
"When you've got it, it hums... it just happens. When you have back-to-back good moments, that builds momentum and you start compiling pressure on the opposition.
"Test rugby is a big pressure cauldron and penalties are what release pressure."
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