Warren Gatland is the wild card in this weekend's test in Cardiff - the All Blacks obviously wary of the profound impact the returning Welsh coach is likely to have.
Wales are in a dark place: they have been ravaged by injury and have had chunks taken out of them not only by the Samoans but a visceral public and a savage crew of former legends.
The national side have endured five consecutive defeats and the mood in Wales is moribund. The professional clubs are all but broke and the star men are leaving in their droves - giant centre Jamie Roberts the latest to reject a contract with Cardiff as he eyes a new life in Paris.
There isn't a magic button to press and fix things quickly, but Gatland, who has not officially been coach since July as he's on secondment as British Lions supremo, will fancy he can at least slap a giant band-aid on things and get a better performance out of his beleaguered troops.
He returned, as was always planned, to the helm this week: the lure of the All Blacks was too hard to resist and besides, this is the game Wales have been targeting, the one that will define their November series.