Ian Foster. Photo / Photosport
Tension rises, minds sharpen, as the business end of the All Blacks season arrives.
Three successive blowouts in as many weeks served purposes in growing revenue and building depth but there is a realisation the final two tests of the year, against Ireland and France, will define the 2021 campaign.
Competition for places will stoke the fire this week as rotation takes a back seat. The All Blacks largely have a fully fit squad, with assistant coach Scott McLeod declaring Brodie Retallick ready to go after sitting out last week's scrappy win over Italy with a shoulder issue.
Dane Coles, in his typically honest manner, offered an insight into the boost Retallick provides.
"He's an absolute pest," Coles said after the All Blacks touched down in Dublin. "There's nothing even wrong with him he was training all week. It's been awesome to have him back. His presence, his leadership, we probably missed last year. With Sam Whitelock being away for part of this year he's taken this group and led really well too.
"Brodie is a bit of a prick at training but he gets stuck in and pushes guys in the face and holds them down. He's one guy you like to look around that circle when you're about to run out and see with you."
Brad Weber has presented symptom-free after sustaining a broken nose and failing his HIA against Italy but he must satisfy the newly introduced independent concussion process to be available, which may pave the way for TJ Perenara to rekindle his halves partnership with Beauden Barrett from Cardiff.
Sevu Reece's bone bruising from the Italian match is the only other minor injury concern. That Sam Cane and possibly Coles, despite impressing with two tries against Italy, could miss the cut in Dublin typifies the difficult selection calls facing Ian Foster.
The All Blacks don't have to reach deep into the toolbox to know Ireland present a major challenge. While this is a new squad, many of whom are yet to experience the feverish Aviva Stadium atmosphere, a large group of leaders featured in many of the past five tests against Ireland that were split 3-2, a run that includes one win each in the past two ties in Dublin.
Coles made no attempt to dance around exactly what is at stake for the All Blacks in the next two weeks.
"It's funny, you always think about the ones you have lost. In the last five years they've always been down to the wire and could have gone either way apart from the World Cup when we were hurting from previous results," Coles said of the All Blacks' 46-14 quarter-final victory in Yokohama.
"They had a great win in the weekend so I expect another tight tussle. They're a different beast at home. They'll be feeding off a full stadium so it's a great challenge for us.
"I remember last time over here that we lost they just kept turning up, it seemed like there was no space for us to attack. That was the one thing that stood out for me. They put some big shots on and put us under pressure. We may have played a bit too much footy so the kicking game might come into it.
"We're under no illusions this week that if we don't perform it takes away a lot of the hard work the boys have put in to turn things around after last year.
"These are two massive games against two quality opposition that will hopefully allow us to look back and say this was a great season."
Foster and All Blacks defence coach Scott McLeod were in the coaching box the last time the All Blacks ventured to Dublin and lost 16-9 in 2018, failing to score a try in the face of Andy Farrell's suffocating defensive system.
"It was an extremely hard match," McLeod recalled. "We were put under loads of pressure early and we didn't react well to that. Some of our leaders made a couple of indiscretions in trying to rectify that pressure and it cost us in the end."
Just as Foster succeeded Steve Hansen post the 2019 World Cup, Farrell has since progressed to assume the Irish reins from Joe Schmidt, who will join the Blues as a support coach next year.
Ireland, under Farrell, finished third in the past two Six Nations. While their offloading and attacking intent came to the fore in last week's 60-5 rout of Jamie Joseph's Japan, the cornerstones of Ireland's game, based around defensive line speed pressure, contesting the breakdown and high kicks, remain prevalent, with veteran halves Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton, following his 100th test, in the saddle.
These aspects have, somewhat worryingly, caused the All Blacks problems for some time. The Springboks and Italy, the latter against Foster's second-string side, are among those to exploit the seemingly inherent weaknesses.
There will be no cheap points for the All Blacks this week. Patience, discipline and accuracy will need to lift several notches. And if Foster's men are to impose their up-tempo style, significant improvements at the breakdown and set-piece must be evident from where it was against the Springboks.
Undoubtedly, Ireland presents the All Blacks' biggest test since their one-point loss to the Boks.
Greg Feek, having switched camps after spending nine years in Ireland, including five at Schmidt and Farrell's side with the national team, could provide a treasure trove of information on the Irish pack now led by test centurion Paul O'Connell.
Coles has already started picking Feek's inside oil.
"Once we get into the footage I'll definitely be picking his brain and see what he comes up with because he's spent a lot of time in that environment," Coles said. "It will be extra special for Feeky coming back here as an All Blacks scrum coach."
With Retallick back and the first-choice team set to be reinstated, the climax to the All Blacks season has dawned.
As recent history against Ireland suggests, there is little margin for error.
OPINION: Breaking down just where the decider can be won.