AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- The power of one performance to reverse fate at the speed of light has rarely been more graphically illustrated than with Ian Foster's retention as All Blacks head coach.
Prior to the All Blacks' upset triumph at Ellis Park last weekend, Foster was as good as gone.
The Crusaders, Blues and Hurricanes were poised to search for new head coaches as the mood for change gripped the under siege national team.
At that stage, the All Blacks had lost five of their past six Tests - their last defeat in Mbombela the largest in South Africa for 94 years.
Something had to change or change would be enacted for the team.
As their latest tipping point arrived, the All Blacks summoned an inspired performance, their best by some distance this year, to save their coach's embattled tenure.
The 35-23 Rugby Championship victory at altitude does not, however, depict just how in the balance Foster's future was.
The backdrop to that Test, the ebbs and flows within it, the context of the result, could let a screenwriter run wild.
In one such moment at a heaving Ellis Park, Beauden Barrett's yellow card handed the Springboks the lead for the first time in the 67th minute and, with it, the expectation the Boks would close out the captivating contest.
Instead the All Blacks, riding a wave of desperation, rallied to claim two tries in the final 10 minutes to finish over the top of the tiring Boks.
If ever a performance spoke to a team's capacity to deliver a backs-to-the-wall response against all odds, this was it.
Emotions flowed publicly and privately post-match in Johannesburg as the toll of the sustained pressure oozed from the All Blacks. They savoured and celebrated their victory that night but did not yet release the significance it held for Foster's future.
In an interview on the pitch immediately after the match Foster was asked whether he would remain as All Blacks head coach. His response - that he had "no idea" whether he would lead the All Blacks in their next Test against Argentina - was telling.
New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson attended the Mbombela loss and Ellis Park victory and then held a bizarre Sunday morning press conference where he gave little away which only seemed to indicate change was coming.
After speaking with senior players back at the team hotel Robinson departed South Africa Sunday afternoon for home knowing a swift decision on Foster's must be made.
Robinson and NZ Rugby general manager Chris Lendrum met Foster on Tuesday once the team had touched down. Following that review, where Foster delivered yet another plan to lead the All Blacks to next year's World Cup, Robinson gave his recommendation to the board that he should be retained. The nine-member board fell in line to unanimously back Foster.
And, thus, NZ Rugby's Olympic Games worthy backflip was complete.
A day later Robinson, NZR chairman Stewart Mitchell and Foster fronted media in Auckland to project a united front that has been sorely lacking amid widespread uncertainty, indecisive leadership and speculation this year.
Together they outlined the justification for Foster's retention that can be compressed into three points.
1. The All Blacks performance at Ellis Park
2. The vocal private and public backing from senior players
3. Further changes to the coaching team that will see Joe Schmidt assume a significantly widened brief from his selector/analyst role to a hands-on responsibility for the attack and defence.
"I don't think anyone can doubt the power of this organisation and team when we witness a result like we did in Johannesburg," Robinson said. "We talk a lot about inspiring and unifying. To be in that stadium of 62,000 with everything against that team and to see them fight the way they did is something we're magnificently proud of.
"That in conjunction with some of the steps this team has made in recent weeks gives us a huge amount of confidence.
"There have been some challenges but we believe in this group and we're backing them through to the World Cup.
"We feel it's a new dawn for this team. There's a lot of continuity but there's a freshness and variety and change that will make a significant difference.
"We want to win every game. There's no hiding from that but as this team grows and develops and the pieces get put around it from a management point of view, we think we're on an upwards trajectory."
With the guillotine removed from full view, Foster cut a man with the weight of the world lifted. He accepted the lack of recent wins, the nature of pro sport, led to his job being on the line in South Africa but with Schmidt's expanded role joining Jason Ryan's marked improvement on the All Blacks forward pack, Foster expressed renewed confidence when pressed on his ability to deliver success at the World Cup.
"It's very strong," Foster said. "The first five Tests of this year were always going to be immensely tough. We got tested and we fell a bit short in a few areas. I'd like to reassure people we're not justifying that. It's been an emotive few days but through all this we've seen a team respond and get excited about the direction we're going."
As for those who have long favoured Crusaders guru Scott Robertson assuming the All Blacks helm, Foster acknowledged some would not support his retention.
"All I can do is chip away at maybe earning some respect from people who may have a different opinion about whether I should be here."
That starts when the All Blacks confront the Pumas in Christchurch next week.
A schedule that features the Pumas, Wallabies, Japan, Wales, Scotland before the final Test of the year against England at Twickenham should offer Foster and the All Blacks a chance to continue their notable improvements at Ellis Park.
Expectations from the demanding New Zealand rugby public will now be that they win every Test until Twickenham, where the All Blacks will seek vengeance for their crushing 2019 World Cup semifinal defeat.
Meet those expectations and Foster will gradually chip away at those critical of his tenure to date.
Don't, though, and the many passionate views questioning New Zealand Rugby's decision are sure to return.