New Zealand's golden Olympic weekend in Paris will take some of the national attention away from the All Blacks' implosion against Argentina in Wellington last night, but within the camp the spotlight will shine brightly on the search for answers.
It's not difficult to remember the last time the All Blacks played with such inaccuracy and, at times, bone-headedness, at home. It was in 2022, and also against Argentina, the Pumas creating history in Christchurch with a first win on New Zealand soil.
It was one of the low points of Ian Foster's reign, but Scott Robertson's predecessor could at least point to a recent trip back from South Africa as a mitigating factor.
In Robertson's case, the 38-30 defeat at Sky Stadium to kick off the Rugby Championship can be blamed on Argentina's doggedness and the All Blacks' sloppiness and little else.
They clearly missed their injured captain Scott Barrett for his leadership, workrate and heft in the second row. Barrett's absence through a finger issue appeared to weigh on the coaches — it may have explained Jason Ryan's slight tetchiness in front of the media on Monday, five days before kick-off — but there the excuses end.
Yes, the All Blacks were perhaps fortunate to beat England 2-0 last month before the blowout against Fiji in San Diego, but there were no obvious signs that suggested they would let go a 20-15 halftime lead that was accrued via a certain amount of physical superiority and collapse against the seventh-ranked team in the world.
"We know that wasn't up to our standard," veteran fullback Beauden Barrett said afterwards. "We were off tonight. We were a bit loose across the board.
"They played their cards well and we didn't deal with it, it's as simple as that.
"It's frustrating and very disappointing."
Quite apart from the lack of execution — the All Blacks, who turned down two early kickable penalties, blew a second-half try for Damian McKenzie for an earlier forward pass from the No.10 to Will Jordan — there was a lack of game management and direction.
The most stunning lapse came with 11 minutes remaining with the All Blacks holding a 30-28 lead. Ethan Blackadder got up to steal a Pumas lineout, only for captain Ardie Savea to fling the ball into the back-field and McKenzie to do the same once he regathered it.
Argentina's converted try from the resulting five metre scrum took the game away and their late penalty denied the All Blacks a losing bonus point.
"We've got to look at ourselves in the mirror — leaders and players — and own it," Savea said.
Sam Darry celebrates his first try for the All Blacks. (Source: Photosport)
Jordie Barrett, who had a difficult time of it in the midfield inside Anton Lienert-Brown, said: "We didn't execute when we needed to. We had a few opportunities to — a lot of that was a lack of opportunity through Argentina's play. It's Test footy, you don't get a lot of opportunities and I think we needed to apply a bit more pressure when we had those."
Barrett said a few things had to change as the All Blacks regroup for another Test against the Pumas at Eden Park on Saturday, and it will be intriguing to see how deep the man known as Razor is prepared to go.
Veteran halfback TJ Perenara, back from a knee injury, was off the pace and McKenzie didn't control the game as he would have liked.
Sevu Reece was quiet on the right wing — presumably Jordan will start there on Saturday.
Lock Sam Darry performed well in only his second Test — one of the few who enhanced their reputation — but second row partner Tupou Vaa'i looked a little lightweight in every sense against a big Pumas pack.
Argentina played the game at their pace and executed the details well. Their tactic to kick re-starts to left wing Mark Tele'a was hugely effective as it trapped the All Blacks in their territory.
"Well done to them, we've got to commend them for playing that style and getting the result," Robertson said.
Asked what needed to improve, he added: "Execution and finish. We've got to be better at kick plans … [and] exits. We've got to be better in a lot of areas.
"You look at yourself, firstly," was his main takeaway. "You think 'what could I have done differently as head coach?'. How could I have framed this week better? I'll reflect over the next 24 hours on it."
Two years ago, the All Blacks responded to the shock in Christchurch by thrashing Argentina a week later in Hamilton.
Reminded of that, Savea said: "We shouldn't need a week. As All Blacks we shouldn't need a loss to improve our performance."
On the other side of the equation was Pumas captain Pablo Matera, the former Crusaders flanker.
Asked about his team's achievement, he replied: "I remember the first time … we believed it was something impossible. It's never been done. I think in the last couple of years you're seeing a team that's becoming more ambitious and working harder and getting better.
All Blacks implode against Pumas to hand Razor his first defeat
Head coach Scott Robertson wanted accuracy and cohesion against Argentina in Wellington. Instead, the visitors overturned a halftime deficit to win.
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"That's why we wanted to do it a second time and a third time."
More history awaits. As the nation knows only too well, the All Blacks haven't lost at Eden Park since 1994.
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