Will the All Blacks find their winning form this autumn?
Aiming for what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the All Blacks have headed north at an crucial period.
Games against the Irish team, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, beyond the possibility to match the sides of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a benchmark to measure the development of the squad under a manager now two years on from taking up the reins.
Current Challenges
Concerns over a lack of an clear playing identity, enduring debates over team picks and departures from the backroom staff have all added to the feeling that the most recognisable team in the rugby is now one in a time of change.
Most importantly, it is the decline in outcomes from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has prompted some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the period of Kiwi superiority.
Recent History
Ahead of their travel for the fall series, it was announced that in the coming year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will face the Springboks in a summer series termed 'an unprecedented series'.
Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has lately dominated of what organizers have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.
Over the past seven years, the South African team have won a pair of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be regarded as the team of their generation.
New Zealand have persisted to beat the Irish team when it counts most, beating their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, meanwhile, lost just two of the past 21 meetings with England, have defeated Wales in all matches since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.
Evolving Landscape
But the loss of their status as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.
While the All Blacks reigned supreme through the last ten years - achieving 87% of their Test matches, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the global tournament of 2019 can now be regarded as when the hierarchical structure changed in the world sport.
New Zealand overcame South Africa in their first game of the tournament in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in the final.
From that point, the New Zealand's victory ratio has declined to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, from the beginning of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to compete with even the last great New Zealand team.
Direct Competition
Throughout the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have won the majority of the recent encounters between the teams, comprising success in the 2023 World Cup final.
While securing their latest southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a historic loss on the New Zealand team through 36 unanswered second-half points in Wellington, a result which has sparked another wave of debate regarding the progress of the team under their leader.
Perhaps most troubling for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, South Africa's achievement has come with an creative approach more commonly connected with their own side.
Playing Philosophy
When the All Blacks were at the peak of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine able of destroying rivals from every section of the field and at any moment of the game.
Today, their offensive approach is less defined as the coach, who has awarded numerous first caps during his 24 months in control, tries to initially build the basic foundations of a winning team.
It has previously announced that the backroom staff member in charge of scoring, the current coach, will exit the team after the autumn tour, making him the next individual of the coaching staff to leave after Leon MacDonald departed last year after just limited matches.
Expectations vs Reality
It was not just Robertson's success, but his style, that was expected to transfer from his former team when he assumed control after the global competition but, so far, each continue to be a ongoing development.
Business Factors
Following financial organization investors invested capital in All Blacks in 2022, the following communication mentioned the "quest of international expansion" for the brand.
That task has possibly been harder by the absence of a global icon. The current captain and the collection of family members remain household names in the rugby, but the concentration of key individuals has expanded significantly. The captain is the sole New Zealand player to earn global recognition in the recent years, in comparison to ten awards in over a decade between the mid-2000s.
Global Expansion
Alternatively, attempts have been implemented to establish the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.
The initial stage of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a revisit to the location where Ireland obtained a landmark success in the fixture nine years ago.
After the easing of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have additionally