Wounded All Blacks desperate to hit back against Springboks

The All Blacks will be desperate to bounce back and prove their critics wrong when they go behind enemy lines to face world champions South Africa on Saturday.

New Zealand clash with the Springboks in Mbombela, then Johannesburg seven days later, in the opening rounds of The Rugby Championship.

The All Blacks have faced a barrage of criticism from pundits and fans in New Zealand since the humbling 2-1 home series defeat to Ireland. They have now lost four of their last five games.

New Zealand's forwards must front up to the notoriously physical Springbok pack, but centre Rieko Ioane said the backs must also assert themselves.

"There's plenty to work on," Ioane told reporters. "We, as backs, need to fire.

"We know that we're coming up against a world-class outfit.

"We need to get better all over the park, whether it's on attack or defence."

He sees the two away Tests against the Springboks as a chance to wipe the slate clean.

"It's a completely different beast that we're facing this week," he added.

"The Irish play how they play and [South] Africa have some similarities, but they're smart footballers."

This will be New Zealand's first match in South Africa for four years and comes with the All Blacks under enormous pressure after only one win in their last five Tests.

Head coach Ian Foster has had to endure calls to stand aside, with the Crusaders' highly successful boss Scott Robertson waiting in the wings having already declared his interest.

In the bitter aftermath of the Ireland defeats, New Zealand Rugby sacked Foster's assistant coaches John Plumtree and Brad Mooar, bringing in Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan.

Scrumhalf Aaron Smith said the blunt criticism of both Foster and All Blacks captain Sam Cane has been "hurtful".

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