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The All Blacks show thr disappointment of a fifth loss in their last six tests.
Call it sympathy or understanding, maybe a bit of everyone, but the Springboks have a feel for where the All Blacks are at.
Having lost five of their last six tests, New Zealand are in crisis mode ahead of their sequel with the Springboks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Sunday (NZT).
The Boks have experience of this themselves, dipping alarmingly in the last World Cup cycle, only to turn things around in the final year and win the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan.
ALL BLACKS
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Duane Vermeulen, the bustling No 8 returning to their lineup this weekend and a key member of that 2019 World Cup triumph, believes things can improve for the All Blacks, and New Zealand won’t lack motivation to do that this weekend.
“It hurts, it’s difficult to be down like that. But those downs need to happen for the ups to return,” Vermeulan said at the Springboks’ latest media session.
“It’s like a heartbeat. If you flatline, you’re dead. I’d rather have a weak heartbeat than none at all. The All Blacks will be up for it, we’ll have to be at our best.
“It’s the first time in New Zealand’s history that they’re ranked as low as fifth in the world rankings.
“That will push them to be better and reach a different level on Saturday.”
Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber reinforced his earlier thoughts around the immense pressures being placed on his All Blacks opposite Ian Foster.
Christiaan Kotze/Photosport
The pressure continues to build on All Blacks coach Ian Foster and his captain Sam Cane.
“As coaches, we’ll always have sympathy for each other,” Nienaber said.
“It’s a pressure environment, we’re all under it. If you’re a coach in countries where rugby is such a big sport like New Zealand and South Africa – places with massive history – then you’re going to have a difficult job at times.
“But it’s not only the coaches. The players are also under massive pressure. We all know if you have lost three in a row, for example, you’re under the microscope because of the expectations. It is what it is.”
He also felt it was only a matter of time before the All Blacks returned to their winning ways.
“If you look at the All Blacks, I’m sure they’ll get it right. Our job is just to make sure they don’t get it right against us,” he said.
“They’ve got such a good coaching team with massive experience, they have centurions in their squad and great players. There’s a good structure and organization back home.
“It’s a matter of time. They pushed us hard in Nelspruit, we only scored our second try in the last minute. We’re looking at this current issue with a fair dose of reality. It was tough and could’ve gone either way in certain periods of that match.”