Will the New Zealand rugby team find their winning form this autumn?
Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their illustrious legacy, the All Blacks have headed north at an crucial period.
Games against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, beyond the possibility to equal the squads of previous successful tours in the record books, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the improvement of the squad under a head coach now well established from assuming control.
Team Issues
Questions over a lack of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over selection and exits from the coaching ticket have all fueled the perception that the most famous squad in the rugby is currently one in a time of change.
Most pertinently, it is the drop in results from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the age of Kiwi superiority.
Recent History
Ahead of their travel for the fall series, it was revealed that next year, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play the Springboks in a summer series called 'a unique competition'.
In the past the sport's top competitors, there is little doubt over who has currently outperformed of what promoters have labeled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.
During the last decade, the South African team have won a pair of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the home nations team to be regarded as the side of their generation.
The All Blacks have continued to overcome the Irish team when it is crucial, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the tournament knockout stages of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a pair of the past 21 meetings with England, have defeated the Welsh side in each game since over sixty years ago and have always been victorious by Scotland.
Evolving Landscape
But the diminishment of their position as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.
Although the New Zealand team excelled through the previous decade - securing 87% of their international games, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on several instances - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power changed in the international rugby.
New Zealand beat South Africa in their initial fixture of the championship in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in the final.
From that point, the All Blacks' success rate has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to match even the last great New Zealand team.
Direct Competition
Throughout the same period, the South African team have secured victory in five of the seven meetings between the sides, comprising success in the 2023 World Cup final.
During their pursuit of their most recent southern hemisphere crown, the Springboks delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks through 36 unanswered second-half points in Wellington, a outcome which has triggered another series of debate regarding the direction of the team under their leader.
Possibly most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their usual power, the Springboks' achievement has come with an offensive flair more commonly connected with their own side.
Team Identity
When the All Blacks were at the peak of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of dismantling competitors from every section of the field and at all times of the match.
Now, their playing philosophy is unclear as Robertson, who has handed out 19 debuts during his two years in control, tries to first establish the fundamental core elements of a winning team.
It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach overseeing attack, the current coach, will exit the team after the autumn tour, becoming the next individual of the coaching staff to leave after previous staff member walked away last year after just five Tests.
Performance Gap
It was not only Robertson's success, but his style, that was expected to carry over from previous club when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, to date, the two aspects are still a ongoing development.
Organizational Strategy
After private equity firm the company acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the ensuing statement discussed the "search of new global opportunities" for the brand.
That objective has maybe been more difficult by the shortage of a global icon. The current captain and the group of family members continue to be household names in the sport, but the spread of stars has become more diverse. The captain is the single New Zealand player to receive international honors in the recent years, in opposition to ten awards in over a decade between 2005 and '07.
International Growth
Rather, attempts have been undertaken to introduce the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.
The opening phase of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the location where the Irish team secured a landmark success in the match in previous seasons.
Following the reduction of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have furthermore
