Jason Ryan isn't letting his recent success go to his head, after being credited for helping the All Blacks' forwards restore their image as the world's best.
After a lacklustre series against Ireland, resulting in a 2-1 loss, Ryan was rushed into the All Blacks' ranks for the tour of South Africa, with his impact noticeable almost immediately.
Having described the All Blacks' pack as being "dented" when he took the role, Ryan has been vital in improving the forwards' fortunes, most notably against the Springboks' maul - to which they didn't concede a try across two tests in South Africa.
And after going down to the Springboks in Mbombela, a 35-23 turnaround in Johannesburg was evidence of the All Blacks' improvement as a side.
But preparing for another physical clash against Argentina, starting in Christchurch on Saturday, Ryan asserts his job is far from done.
"It's one test," Ryan said. "I'm not one to read when things are going well, and not one to read it when it's not.
"I'm just so focussed on getting this forward pack where I know we need to be.
"I know there's been a few acknowledgements, but I'll be judged by how the boys respond on the field.
"I keep saying it, I know, but there's a lot of work for this All Blacks team to do yet.
"I'm looking forward to getting amongst it."
Before taking the All Blacks' job, Ryan was described by Crusaders coach Scott Robertson as the best forwards coach in the world, praise echoed by Argentina's Pablo Matera.
Despite the praise coming his way though, Ryan knows there is more work to be done.
"We've made a couple of steps in the right direction, I think," Ryan added. "Our feet are definitely well and truly on the ground.
"We've still got a lot of work to do. We were proud of the effort, but we've had to shift our focus really quickly into this Argentinian side.
"It's been a mixture of a lot of things really. The big one has been certainty in their roles, giving them a couple of systems they can understand and believe in.
"I think we've done that. But every team you play against is different, you've got to prepare accordingly.
"[I'm] definitely happy with where we're at at the moment, but striving to be better.
"We've got to keep moving forward, and just really keep attacking, believing in each other and keep our confidence growing all the time, and keep challenging ourselves."
The respect for Matera in particular goes both ways, with he and Ryan having worked together as part of the Super Rugby Pacific champion Crusaders side in 2022.
And Ryan has no hesitation in pointing out stopping Matera will be key if the All Blacks are to emerge victorious on Saturday.
"He's a great player - a phenomenal player. He's a world class loose forward, and he's so physical.
"Our defence will have to be right on top to shut down his speed and his ball carrying.
"He's playing well too."
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