The All Blacks have set the standards for donkey's years.
Ever since they played their first game - which they won - the benchmark for the All Blacks has been sky-high.
Anything less than a perfect performance and resounding win and the questions start coming at them.
But great teams want it that way. Anything but a top-drawer effort should bring queries and furrowed brows.
The inquiries have come thick and fast this week after an indifferent All Black performance in the narrow win over the English at Eden Park last Saturday night.
The answer will be played out at Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight, and the All Blacks have left no stone unturned in wanting to improve.
The men in black are fully aware they need to be more accurate in lots of ways - handling and kicking would be a good start - and they will have to be better against an English team that is a notch above what most in New Zealand thought.
The All Blacks went through their final training run under the roof yesterday afternoon and captain Richie McCaw, about to start his 126th test, said they simply had to be better than last week.
''We realised this series was going to be tough, going off the games we had against them over the past couple of years,'' he said.
''We did not help ourselves last week, so rather than think too much about what England are going to be bringing, we have to be better, because they are going to be better.''
The All Blacks were fully aware they had to remove the sloppy errors from their game and had been working on that this week.
''If we get that again this week, we are going to get second. That is not the standard you expect so, because of that, everyone has gone up a bit.
''The intent has been there this week. We just have to make sure it transfers to performance. You never really know until you get out on the track. The way the guys have gone about their work, it is a noticeable step up from last week.''
The All Blacks will have the advantage of a dry track under the roof tonight but this is not the England of 10 or even five years ago. The men from the old country have realised they have to play rugby and score tries to win games. They simply cannot kick for position. Possession is king in the modern rugby world.
McCaw and his team know that and will not be looking to give England a sniff.
''We have had a good week but you can't just think that is going to mean a performance,'' McCaw said.
''It is good to get to this point and guys are pretty clear and excited. Now we just have to make sure we transfer that to the field.''
The onus to perform falls on first five-eighth Aaron Cruden, who had an indifferent game last week. He has not played a lot of rugby of late and his rustiness was obvious to all. He must be more accurate in kicking and choosing the right time to release his outsides.
All Black coach Steve Hansen talked this week of not making mass changes after one bad performance.
But many have now entered the last-chance saloon. Another poor effort tonight and the selectors' knives will come out.
All Blacks v England: Forsyth Barr Stadium, tonight, 7.35pm
All Blacks: Ben Smith, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Victor Vito, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Malakai Fekitoa.
England: Mike Brown, Manu Tuilagi, Luther Burrell, Billy Twelvetrees, Marland Yarde, Owen Farrell, Danny Care, Ben Morgan, Chris Robshaw (captain), Tom Wood, Geoff Parling, Joe Launchbury, David Wilson, Rob Webber, Joe Marler. Reserves: Dylan Hartley, Matt Mullan, Kieran Brookes, Courtney Lawes, Billy Vunipola, Ben Youngs, Freddie Burns, Chris Ashton.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa).
