Shocking many, Ian Foster has survived a performance review and will coach the All Blacks through to next year's Rugby World Cup.
Ending months of uncertainty, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) on Wednesday backed Foster to stay on the All Blacks plunging to their lowest-ever world ranking.
Foster looked set to exit the job after a run of five losses in seven Tests leading into last weekend's second clash with world champions South Africa.
However, a gutsy 35-23 win over the Springboks at Ellis Park, which NZR board chair Stewart Mitchell described on Wednesday as "magnificent", arrived at the perfect time for 57-year-old.
"(The board) have unanimously agreed they have absolute confidence that Ian and this coaching group are the right people to lead the All Blacks through to the World Cup," Mitchell said.
"This has been privately and publicly validated by our players and in various conversations within our high performance team."
While Foster was retained, former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has been elevated in the coaching set-up and will now guide the All Blacks' attack.
Foster, a long-term All Blacks assistant under Steve Hansen, succeeded his old boss in 2019 but has been unable to maintain his form.
While Hansen won 93 of his 107 Tests in charge, Foster's winning record is the worst in the professional era, drawing ire from many Kiwis.
After losing Tests in Ireland and France last year, the All Blacks then lost two home Tests to the Irish this winter for their first home series defeat in 28 years.
After New Zealand's worst-ever loss in South Africa in their Rugby Championship opener to the Springboks earlier this month, Foster's fate appeared sealed.
However, the off-the-canvas win at Johannesburg's Ellis Park last weekend gave the board confidence to back in Foster.
Foster said he was "delighted" to continue.
"It's clearly been a difficult time," he said.
"But I believe in the plan I've got. I believe we've got great support behind us. Now we want to set our sails and get stuck into work."
Stewart said this week's review of the coaching position was long-scheduled, and not in response to mounting concerns over the All Blacks performance.
Schmidt's appointment as attack coach continued a shake up of Foster's panel of assistants, with Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan joining the group last month and credited for the pack's improvement in South Africa.
Ryan's appointment raised eyebrows given his long attachment to six-time Super Rugby winner Scott Robinson, who many Kiwis want to see coaching the All Blacks.
"We're a group that's going through a little bit of change (and) that's reflective of us chasing the performance levels we want," Foster said.
"I understand the pressure on my role," Foster said.
"When you lose a series people hurt.
"Now I'm pretty excited about going down to Christchurch and giving these players a chance."
