New Zealand are as fragile off the field as they are dominant on it.
That's the grim assessment of All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, who has renewed a call for New Zealand government support if his all-conquering team are to maintain their pre-eminent place in world rugby.
Hansen's concerns about the financial strain on the Kiwi game came in the same week World Rugby vice-chairman Augustin Pichot warned the international scene is in danger of disintegrating if a unified global calendar can't be nailed down within 12 months.
Pichot said rugby's business model doesn't add up for most countries.
He has threatened to walk away rather than "be an accomplice to rugby's ruin".
Despite its success at all levels, New Zealand Rugby is losing money and struggling to retain all of its leading players who are being courted by large offshore clubs.
Hansen says finding a financial solution is imperative.
"The word complacency's been bandied around about us as a team but we're fighting it all the time with our fans and our country," Hansen said.
"It's not an everlasting thing that we're doing. I'm sure there would be a different attitude if this team wasn't performing."
Former All Black Lima Sopoaga this week said playing for New Zealand was losing its allure and that players will increasingly accept overseas deals, such as he has with English club Wasps.
Hansen hoped New Zealand Rugby's commitment to protecting player welfare can help prevent the current trickle of departures turning into a torrent.
"I don't think there's any more going than there has been and there's a lot of guys over there who think it's a grind," Hansen said.
"But we have to keep thinking of ways to keep this big machine going."
Hansen's previous plea for government support of the country's richest sport organisation was greeted with widespread negativity.
He pointed out central funding could be a means to boost the grass roots game, freeing up more sponsorship money to retain top players.
That, in turn, would protect an All Blacks brand he believes puts Kiwis on the map.
"Rugby in this country is part of who we are and what we are.
"You can go anywhere in the world and people may not know New Zealand but they've heard of the All Blacks."
