Jeff Wilson says the All Blacks must win at least one of two Tests against the Springboks in the Republic to build momentum for the rest of the Rugby Championship.

The clash between New Zealand and the Boks in Nelspruit on Saturday is the first of two in South Africa that could decide the fate of embattled All Blacks head coach Ian Foster. 

On Sky Sport’s ‘The Breakdown’, Wilson contended a good start to the tournament for New Zealand could help revive the Kiwis’ fortunes and ease some of the pressure on Foster. 

“Where does Ian Foster sit right now? He knows that he has got two Test matches to deliver,” Wilson said.

“I think if they split two, I think if they win one over there, and perform, it will give him an opportunity to come up against … Argentina, who we can beat, Australia, we’ve had their number … then you can build some momentum.

“But the future is right in these two Test matches [in South Africa]. If he lost both, it would be really hard, really difficult.”

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Wilson said Crusaders coach Scott Robertson’s recent statement on his international coaching ambitions has also made things difficult for Foster as he tries to right the ship.

He added: “The trouble is that Scott Robertson has come out and said he wants to win two Rugby World Cups with two different teams, he wants to get the opportunity to coach at the international level.

“It is interesting he said that when he is actually under contract with New Zealand Rugby. I find that difficult.

“The fact that he is going to coach the Barbarians … I think he had the opportunity to coach the All Blacks XV, he turned that down.

“So, we know exactly where Scott Robertson sits right now. His expectations are that he wants to go to the next level.

“But they [the All Blacks] have a job to do and I think this has put, in some ways, New Zealand Rugby in a really difficult situation.”

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