All Black great Frank Bunce is the latest former player to speak out about the side’s dip in form and believes “we’ve got to do something” before the situation further sours.
Many have suggested a new leadership group should be instated following the national side’s series defeat to Ireland, but with Ian Foster seemingly maintaining his role, questions remain as to where to go next.
With the 2023 Rugby World Cup just around the corner, Bunce believes there is enough time to alter the coaching staff but is unsure how effective the change would be.
“Where do you go? That's the big thing,” Bunce said on SENZ Breakfast.
“(There are) people crying out for change and other people saying it’s not going to happen or not yet … but obviously we’ve got to do something.
“I think you can always call for the head of a coach, but whether or not they change it or the smart to do is change it, I’m not sure.
“It’s (the Rugby World Cup is) definitely close, I guess we’ve still got time to do it if it’s done almost immediately. You’ve still got time for a coach to stamp his mark or make whatever changes he might have.
“It’s a hard one because we base the whole cycle around World Cups and that’s what’s on everybody’s mind, and probably even that’s not a good thing.”
Bunce and fellow former All Black Walter Little, who combined for one of the greatest midfield combinations in rugby history, believe the All Blacks’ performances are a sign of issues beyond the team.
The former centre suggests the “heart’s been ripped out” of community rugby by New Zealand Rugby and we are now “paying the price” for years of neglect at the grassroots level.
“I was talking to Walter Little yesterday about it, he rang me up (and) he said New Zealand Rugby has got more problems than just the All Blacks,” Bunce continued.
“He reckons … we’re almost paying for what we’ve done to rugby as a whole from club rugby, NPC and Super Rugby.
“The heart’s been ripped out of the community game, it’s all for the top game, and he thinks that we’re paying a bit of a price for that now.”
While NZR continues to manage the fallout of the side’s huge series loss to Ireland, the All Blacks will now begin their preparation for August’s Rugby Championship.
The side will begin the series in South Africa as they take on the Springboks on August 7 at 3:05am (NZST).