All Blacks won't sack coach Foster before Springbok Tests - report

Under-fire All Blacks coach Ian Foster looks likely to keep his job ahead of their Rugby Championship tour to South Africa.

The All Blacks mentor is under immense pressure after his side lost a home series 2-1 to Ireland. It was New Zealand's first home series loss since they went down to France in 1994 and their fourth loss in their past five Tests.

Following last weekend's 32-22 defeat to Ireland, New Zealand Rugby launched an urgent review into the series defeat, which chief executive Mark Robinson deemed "not acceptable".

However, a report in the New Zealand Herald suggests that Foster will not be sacked before the Rugby Championship.

According to the report, a potential coaching cleanout would cost NZ Rugby well over $2million and - with the All Blacks set to name an updated squad for the Rugby Championship - there are fears that mass changes would destabilise the current group of players.

NZ Rugby will, however, expand Joe Schmidt's selector/analyst role to become "much more influential".

The current New Zealand assistant coaches are John Plumtree, Brad Mooar, Scott McLeod and Greg Feek.

The All Blacks open their Rugby Championship campaign against the Springboks at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on 6 August, before a second Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 13 August.