Embattled head coach Ian Foster has set his sights on the All Blacks' next opponents, despite the uncertainty over his future in the role.
After three straight losses and dropping to a worst-ever fifth in world rankings, Foster masterminded his team's stunning turnaround against world champions South Africa at their Johannesburg fortress, reversing a comprehensive defeat at Mbombela seven days earlier.
While the performance has won over many of Foster's personal critics, NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson has stopped short of endorsing him as the coach moving forward, insisting no major announcement would come until the team were home among friends and family.
"We've been having conversations right through this time," said Robinson. "We believe we know where we stand, we've just got to work through that with him."
Foster insists he hasn't paid too much attention to his boss' comments, as he enjoyed the moment and looks ahead to another Rugby Championship fixture against Argentina at Christchurch on August 27.
If the Pumas appealed as a chance to pad the dire recent record, that notion was dismissed, when they ran rampant over Australia 48-17 to catapult to the top of the competition standings.
"To be fair, I haven't heard or read a lot of those comments, but he's got a job to do, and I'm about to hop on a plane and go home, and probably mow the lawns around the pool," said Foster.
"I'll be give feedback no doubt, but my expectation is that I'm the All Blacks head coach. Later in the week, I'll be going to Christchurch to assemble a team, until I'm told anything different.
"I certainly feel I've got the support and backing of the All Blacks, but NZ Rugby still have processes they want to go through to categorically say that. I do know that to coach this team, you need to have that categoric support."
Despite the turnaround against the Springboks, Foster feels he has unfinished business with the national side and would be disappointed if he is deprived the chance to continue the improvement shown.
"Winning is helpful, but I'm just proud of the performance," he said. "You always know there will be obstacles and if you look at three [losses] in a row, that's a bit of adversity this group hasn't had, including me.
"We've got an absolute goal of a Rugby World Cup next year and this period needs to be the launching pad for that.
"I'm not resentful about anything that's happened over the last three weeks. I'm disappointed we lost, but I also think we're using it the right way to fuel a team that's united and has a growth mindset, and wants to play for this country."
Foster admits slipping away from the post-match celebrations in Johannesburg to catch the second half of Argentina's victory over the Wallabies.
"They looked good."
