Ian Foster hasn't walked an easy road as head coach of the All Blacks, but four years of adversity have given his team the best possible preparation for this year's Rugby World Cup in France.
Since taking the job in 2020, succeeding Sir Steve Hansen after the 2019 World Cup, Foster has endured hardships few other All Blacks coaches have in the modern era.
No other has had to operate in a global pandemic, while onfield results had him battling to save his job, after a poor 2022 run.
Now, with the Rugby World Cup weeks away, Foster's All Blacks are peaking at the perfect time. This year, they have conquered all before them, winning four tests out of four against their southern hemisphere foes.
With one final test - against South Africa at Twickenham - before beginning the World Cup against hosts France on September 9 (NZ time), the NZ team couldn't have asked for better preparation.
Foster, 58, knows what it takes to win the World Cup, after assisting Sir Steve Hansen in 2015 and falling at the penultimate hurdle in 2019.
As the All Blacks depart for Europe on Friday, he has outlined exactly why he believes his squad couldn't be in a better place to challenge for an unprecedented fourth Webb Ellis Cup.
"I think that it's a well-tested group," said Foster. "It's a group that's gone through a lot of adversity.
"In the past, we've gone into World Cups feeling perhaps where we get tested in adversity is at the World Cup. Winning one out of seven away World Cups reflects that as a country.
"We have to be confident. We've gone through adversity, this group has stayed tight, they've figured out solutions.
"They're really growing in confidence in how they lead themselves on the park and how they play.
"We're confident we've prepared as well as we can. You go into World Cups and know everything is week by week.
"Hopefully, you've had that message from us anyway, that's how we've been approaching this year."
Regardless of what happens in France, the curtain will ultimately come down on Foster's time as All Blacks head coach - for now, at least.
NZ Rugby's decision to appoint Scott Robertson early, handing him the reins from 2024, has ultimately given Foster complete clarity over the job at hand, but even with a definite end date now stamped on his tenure as All Blacks coach, he isn't thinking about the end.
"Will I reflect on that? No, I won't, there's too much to do now.
"We've got a great occasion in front of us. With World Cups, you don't want to waste a day.
"If you waste too much time thinking about the future, then who knows?"
As the man fronting the charge, Foster has given one final rallying cry to the millions of Kiwis backing his side in France.
He has hardly been the most successful coach of the All Blacks, but misfortune for other sides - and an 11-game unbeaten streak - has opened the door for him to sign off with a World Cup win. With the belief that preparation brings, his team know exactly who they're playing for in France.
"I just want to thank everyone for their support, the last month has been unreal," Foster added.
"The amount of support we've got from the country going around... the time in Napier was special, it had a big impact on this team, kept us grounded.
"I'm grateful for the chances we've been given and the adversity other people are going through. We just want to do them proud."
