'It needs to happen quickly': Foster concedes All Blacks have to lift

Embattled All Blacks coach Ian Foster admits time is running out for his team to start winning consistently after they endured a first-ever home soil loss to Argentina to continue their dismal run of form.

The defeat to Michael Cheika’s team in Christchurch on Saturday night was the sixth in eight Tests for the three-time world champions and has reignited scrutiny of Foster after a brief reprieve following their win over South Africa in Johannesburg two weeks ago.

“When you’re trying to build something a little different it takes a while and it’s pretty frustrating, isn’t it?” Foster told reporters on Sunday.

“It’s frustrating I’m sure for the viewers and the fans and it’s frustrating for us.

“But we have got a lot of faith that some of the things we’re building are paying dividends. But it needs to happen quickly and we know that.”

New Zealand meet Argentina again in Hamilton on Saturday with New Zealand at risk of an unprecedented second home series defeat in a row following their 2-1 loss against Ireland earlier in the year.

The All Blacks lost their final two matches of 2021 against Ireland and France before suffering those two defeats against the Irish in New Zealand.

They then lost against South Africa in their RugbyChampionship opener earlier this month before beating the Springboks at Ellis Park a week later.

After the next Argentina clash they will be defending the Bledisloe Cup in two Tests against the Wallabies.

The run of losses has so far resulted in some key changes among Foster’s coaching staff.

“We’re all hurting too, none of us like losing,” said Foster.

“I guess the flipside of it is that everyone’s aware that we’re putting some new players in some areas, we’re trying to grow parts of our game that we think we’ve struggled with.

“We were quite rightly criticised last year for being beat up up front in certain games and we’ve made big shifts in that.

“But we’ve got to put all those learnings into one game and we showed that we can do it in South Africa and we’ve got to do it again in Hamilton.”

Foster also offered his support to under-fire All Blacks captain Sam Cane who was substituted late in Saturday’s game.

“Clearly he’s under the spotlight, we’re all under the spotlight when things don’t go well. But behind the scenes, he’s strong,” he said.

“I thought a lot of his tackle and work around the breakdown was a big shift up from the last two games and we’re pleased with that.”