All Blacks confidence crisis as South Africa trip looms

WELLINGTON : As the conquering Irish headed for home after their stunning series triumph, the All Blacks were left pondering a crisis of confidence with two tests against the world champion Springboks less than a month away.

Ian Foster's position as coach still looks secure despite only one win from New Zealand's last five matches, including the back-to-back home reverses against Ireland that New Zealand Rugby (NZR) pronounced "unacceptable".

NZR last August handed Foster a contract extension through to next year's World Cup but his win rate as All Blacks coach now stands at 66.7 per cent - well below the 80 per cent-plus his two World Cup-winning predecessors enjoyed.

The two tests in South Africa kick off the Rugby Championship and All Blacks great John Kirwan thinks Foster will be given the chance to put things right in that competition.

"I believe Ian Foster can turn this around, well he has to turn it around," the former Italy coach told Newstalk ZB radio on Monday.

"With the Rugby Championship, if we win that and we see some signs of improvement, then I think he'll survive. If not then I think it will be a very interesting debate."

That debate would no doubt centre on the merits of giving the job to Scott Robinson, who lost out to Foster in 2019 but has continued to enjoy annual success with the Canterbury Crusaders.

New Zealand tends to get jittery around the All Blacks at even the smallest setback and NZR cancelling a Foster news conference on Sunday while promising a review of the Ireland series did little to settle the nerves of a nation.

"That's not helped the situation, I don't think," former All Blacks scrumhalf Justin Marshall told TV Station Three on Monday.

"No doubt, there's a pathway going forward and they