Analysis: The All Blacks have assured us that they aren't getting ahead of themselves on the eve of their World Cup semifinal against Argentina but that doesn't mean New Zealand can't, writes Patrick McKendry in Paris.
A team that has created history under head coach Ian Foster over the past four years in losing to Argentina for the first time (in Sydney in 2020), to the Pumas in New Zealand for the first time (last year), and to Ireland in New Zealand and in a series for the first time (also last year) are on the brink of making a World Cup final.
Eighty minutes stands in the way of them making the promised land, and, again this may be tempting fate in a big way, but if they clear the next hurdle and beat either South Africa or England in the final at the Stade de France a week on Sunday NZT, it will register as their most unlikely of all World Cup victories and put Foster in line for a knighthood.
Once, that is, he departs his role due to not being considered good enough by the New Zealand Rugby board.
There is much water to flow along the Seine before that happens, clearly, but such was the way in which the All Blacks applied themselves in their victory over Ireland last weekend that one of the biggest coaching comebacks in New Zealand sporting history remains a big possibility.
And if the All Blacks are ultimately triumphant then let's not beat around the bush - it will be one of the most awkward occasions that New Zealand Rugby has ever encountered. A penny, at that point, for the thoughts of chief executive Mark Robinson, who will be sitting in the grandstand.
Sir Graham Henry received his knighthood after watching his team beat France 8-7 in the 2011 final; likewise Sir Steve Hansen, Henry's former assistant, after he repeated the feat four years later in England. The most recent rugby knight, Sir Wayne Smith, was acknowledged after leading the Black Ferns to World Cup glory against the odds last year - an extraordinary feat in itself given what had occurred in the months prior.
Again, it may be premature, but it's worth thinking about because the precedent is set. If Foster were to emulate that trio then presumably he will be knighted at some point after being deemed not good enough to continue by his employers. It should be noted, too, that Foster has given no word about what he will do in a professional sense after the World Cup.
Scott Robertson, who won seven out of seven titles with the Crusaders, will take over at the All Blacks once this tournament is finished, with a big clear-out of management imminent. Of the coaches, only former Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan is remaining (as is trainer Nic Gill).
The Boks, who play England in their semifinal on Sunday morning, are slight favourites to retain the William Webb Ellis Cup but after the All Blacks sent the former No.1 side in the world home it would be dangerous to bet against a side which appears to be peaking at precisely the right time.
As such, it appears to be a world away from four years ago at this stage when they fell to England in the semifinal after putting Ireland to the sword in the quarter-final.
"The talk about 2019 we covered off in a small amount of time," said Foster this morning NZT when asked about the last campaign in Japan when he was an assistant to Hansen.
"It is not lingering in our mind. Most of the lessons we got out of 2019 have been taken on board. We make sure we go back and revisit what were the keys and we have done that.
"Where I'm really proud of this group is that they are just loving being here and where they are at right now. The hardest thing to do in sport is to stay in the now, just to nail the thing in front of you. There is so much talk about the past and the future and the hardest thing is not to allow yourself to get distracted by those two conversations, but just to be the best you can be right now.
"We are working hard at that and that's the coaching group as well. I'm incredibly proud of the way the players are dealing with that. They are not getting distracted by being too confused by lessons of the past.
"This group has its own way of doing things. There is a lot of honesty in the group. They have been preparing really well. We want to show we can deal with the challenges in front of us one at a time and just keep growing as a group."
It goes without saying that their stock dived after their opening defeat to France (who are now out of the tournament following their defeat to South Africa), but the All Blacks are now looking more likely by the day.
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