All Blacks second-five David Havili believes the players need to accept responsibility for their horrid run of bad results, following their third straight test defeat.
On Sunday (NZ time), New Zealand were convincingly beaten by the Springboks and looked lost on attack, with their only try coming in the 78th minute.
Havili maintains it's both his own and his teammates' responsibility to rectify that, with unforced efforts and ill-discipline proving costly at Mbombela Stadium.
With under-fire All Blacks coach Ian Foster receiving the brunt of the criticism, the midfielder has challenged the players to step up at Ellis Park.
"Definitely everyone. We've got to take it as players, accountability," Havili said. "The coach is doing a great job to give us the opportunity to express ourselves.
"But we need to be able to adapt to what they are bringing during the game and that's what we're working on this week.
"We're going out there, we're trying our best and so is the coaching staff. Stuff ain't clicking at the moment but our effort is there.
"We're trying really hard and that's exciting. We're creating those opportunities but now we have to take them and just enjoy an awesome week for us in Johannesburg."
Despite the weekend;s result, Havili admitted he's relishing his return to South Africa, following SARU's withdrawal from Super Rugby and subsequent joining of the United Rugby Championship in Europe.
Many pundits and fans have linked the All Blacks' disappointing run of results to the lack of games against South African opposition, with only Australian and Pasifika teams to contest in the latest iteration of Super Rugby.
"It's awesome to come here to tour, definitely. We love coming over here and challenging them, but Super Rugby definitely misses them [South Africa]," Havili said.
"I'd like to think that they would want to come over to us, and they're missing us as well. You never know in the future."
But Havili is confident the All Blacks can bounce back against the Springboks, and sees it as the ideal opportunity to turn their fortune around.
"Definitely and there's no better place to do it at Ellis Park, right?"
