All Blacks coach Ian Foster admits he's "bitterly disappointed" but isn't feeling any added pressure following the nation's first Test loss to Argentina on Saturday afternoon in Sydney.
Despite it being their first Test in 402 days, Argentina beat the three-time world champions, who only a fortnight wrapped up the Bledisloe Cup for an 18th straight year by smashing the Wallabies in Sydney, 25-15.
Making the defeat all the more surprising, more than half of Argentina's players hadn't played a professional match since March because of COVID-19 while the All Blacks had played eight local derbies in their Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.
But the extra time spent on the field in 2020 mattered little as the Pumas, who came into the match as $13 outsiders, outclassed their All Blacks in almost every area and took advantage of their opponents ill-discipline.
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😭 I'M NOT CRYING. YOU'RE CRYING!
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) November 14, 2020
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The defeat meant the All Blacks have lost back to back matches for the first time since 2011, after being surprised 24-22 by the Wallabies a week ago in Brisbane.
It leaves Foster, who was controversially promoted from assistant coach to the head job ahead of Scott Robertson to replace Steve Hansen, with just two wins from his opening five matches in charge of the rugby powerhouse.
But the long-serving All Blacks coach, who failed to lead the Chiefs to a Super Rugby title in eight years in charge, before Wallabies coach Dave Rennie took the New Zealand side to back to back premierships in his first two years in charge, said pressure always came with leading New Zealand.
"No, I guess, this role always come with pressure," he said.
"What I feel right now is massive disappointment that we haven't achieved what we wanted to achieve in the past two games.
"The key right now is we've got a lot of good people in this group, we've shown we can perform at a high level we've just got to go back to do it.
"The word pressure is there all the time. But I think the word (is) I'm just bitterly disappointed more than anything."
Foster, who was curiously only signed by New Zealand Rugby for two years, said the All Blacks didn't take the Pumas lightly but believed they were inspired to perform by the tragedy unfolding in Argentina where the country is gripped by COVID-19.
"I think what happened in the game is that we saw a team that everyone said their disadvantage was they hadn't played a lot of rugby, but I think their camp and their two games meant they've come in here with massive energy and a massive desire to prove something for their country," Foster told reporters.
"I want to congratulate them on the result. It's a bit of a historic day for them. Whilst it's deeply disappointing for us, it's massively exciting for them and, I guess, it's a big congratulations to Mario (Ledesma) and his team for what they've been able to achieve."
⭐ Sanchez the star with all 25 points for the Pumas!
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) November 14, 2020
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While the All Blacks carved up the Wallabies in Bledisloe III, the back to back defeats, which come off the back of their World Cup semi-final exit, show that the gap is closing.
The retirements of Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Dan Carter and Ma'a Nonu might not have impacted them following the 2015 World Cup, but the departures of Kieran Read and Ben Smith seem to have caught up with them.
Not only is it the class they are missing on the field, it's also the experience and composure that they offered.
Reflecting on the match, captain Sam Cane said there was enough leadership in the side to respond but admitted he was disappointed with his side's lack of composure.
"If you look through the team I think there's plenty of experience, but no doubt there was times in that game where individuals and as a team we didn't have as much composure as we would have liked to had," the classy No.7 said.
"That's a clear area of focus for us going forward. But I think we've definitely got the right men in there for the job."
The All Blacks have a week off to prepare for their final Test of the year against Argentina on November 28 in Newcastle.
