Chris Rattue, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that the international return of Dan Carter is cause for optimism.
"Caution has filled the room. Fear has swept the streets. Panic is in the air.
"We're all doomed - our matchwinner is back. He can't be ready because rugby is way more complicated than that," goes the cry.
"Wayne Smith, the All Black back coach, isn't even sure that the man he's just picked for the test squad is ready. Former All Black coaches are urging, you guessed it, caution. Bloggers and emailers can barely get their fingers out to tap the keyboards due to the wringing of their nervous hands.
"Breaking the habit of a lifetime, this column has searched long and hard and found a few reasons for optimism."