All Blacks coach Ian Foster says his side are feeling the pressure, after Sunday's (NZ time) defeat to South Africa, but predicts "something special" from his embattled team in this weekend's rematch.
The All Blacks went down 26-10 for their fifth defeat in their last six test matches, losing their Rugby Championship opener to a physical South African side.
And as pressure continues to mount on Foster, who's now overseen three successive test losses, the All Blacks' coach concedes his side are aware of the stakes at play, when the second test kicks off at Johannesburg on Sunday (NZ time).
Should the All Blacks lose, they would surrender the Freedom Cup - which they've held since 2009 - as well as begin the defence of the Rugby Championship with a 0-2 record.
"It's a huge week," Foster said. "We always knew coming over here [for] back to back tests was going to be massive.
"It would have been nice to win the first one, but we didn't. So we're going to Ellis Park, all on the line.
"It's a trophy that's pretty special to us, and part of the Rugby Championship."
Foster also conceded there's pressure on his side, now out to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat.
Only the All Blacks' side of 1998 - which lost five times in succession - has endured a worse run than that.
Aside from the negativity of defeat though, Foster asserts better days are around the corner for the All Blacks.
"We've just got to have a deep breath," he continued. "We know there's a lot of pressure on, and we're feeling that, but we've also got that pressure on ourselves.
"Our job right now is to look at our performance and how we can grow it.
"I understand the frustration, I get that, but it doesn't change what we have to do now.
"There's no point sulking about it for too long, we just have to get into Ellis Park and make some gains, keep growing our game and still believe.
"I still think there's something special brewing, but we've got to keep showing it."
In a boost for Foster and the All Blacks, though, the pair of Beauden and Jordie Barrett have both been cleared of injury, and will remain in the frame to take the field at Ellis Park.
Beauden in particular appeared to be in major doubt, after a shocking mid-air collision that resulted in a straight red card to Springboks winger Kurt-Lee Arendse.
But in a turn of good fortune, scans have relieved Barrett of anything serious.
"Jordie [has] a bad ankle, but not too bad. Beaudy went for a scan last night on his neck.
"That's clear, so we'll make a decision on that later in the week, but [he's] still a bit sore."
