Still smarting from another underwhelming performance against the Wallabies at Sydney, the All Blacks are eager to shrug off their inconsistency to beat a Wellington hoodoo and provide a fitting farewell to two team stalwarts in possibly their last appearances on home soil.
New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup for a 23rd straight year with their 31-28 win over their trans-Tasman rivals, but squandered most of their early 21-0 advantage, as they were forced to play most of the last 10 minutes with 13 men, after midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown and winger Caleb Clarke were both yellow-carded.
While players and coaches are accentuating the positive, they are keenly aware they have yet to put on a complete performance under new coach Scott Robertson — and Sky Stadium has proved an unforgiving venue for a national team at anything less than 100%.
The All Blacks last won in the capital against France in 2018, with four losses and a draw since, most recently a 38-30 defeat to Argentina last month. If Eden Park has become a fortress for the national team, the 'Cake Tin' is their graveyard.
The All Blacks have not won there since 2018. (Source: 1News)
"We're really excited to play at Sky Stadium and change things around for that stadium," admitted assistant coach Jason Holland, who knows the ground well from his days on the Hurricanes staff.
"We're really aware of that and we've got plans in place to make it an awesome opportunity to put out a good performance. We hear it's a packed-out stadium, so we're pretty driven to play the footy we want to play and take that opportunity."
The occasion also looms as a possible swansong for veterans Sam Cane and TJ Perenara, with their days in black seemingly numbered. Former skipper Cane has already indicated he won't be back next year, as he takes up a three-year contract with Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath.
Without the burden of captaincy, Cane, 32, has reclaimed his starting position as openside flanker, with this week's match offering a chance to bring up 100 games in the jersey.
With Aaron Smith's departure and injury to heir apparent Cam Roigard, Perenara - also heading to Japan - has shown his mettle by overcoming an Achilles tendon rupture to regain his place in the squad and assisting the transition under Robertson. Roigard, Cortez Ratima and Noah Hotham now loom as the future of the halfback position, so Perenara, 32, may not be required next time the All Blacks assemble in New Zealand.
"They've been massive parts of New Zealand footy, both of them," agreed Holland. "I'm not sure it's their last game, but whichever way it goes, we want to show massive respect.
"We talked about Wellington and the stadium... there's another couple of reasons with those boys running out and we need to take that opportunity. Massive respect for the two boys, but I'm not sure they willing to say it's over yet."
One name you can rule a line through for this week's fixture is midfielder Jordie Barrett, who hobbled off at halftime in Sydney and is sporting a knee brace this week, as he awaits the result of scans.
"He won't train this week, so that probably answers that question," said Holland.
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