Can the All Blacks find their spark during the fall tour?
Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their illustrious legacy, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an crucial period.
Games against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, in addition to the opportunity to join the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a yardstick to measure the improvement of the side under a head coach now two years on from assuming control.
Current Challenges
Questions over a lack of an clear playing identity, enduring debates over team picks and exits from the backroom staff have all added to the feeling that the most famous squad in the sport is currently one in a time of change.
Most pertinently, it is the drop in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of the last decade that has led some to speculate that we have evolved beyond of the age of New Zealand dominance.
Team Record
Prior to their journey for the fall series, it was confirmed that next year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will meet South Africa in a off-season matches termed 'a unique competition'.
Historically the sport's top competitors, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what marketers have described 'The Premier Rivalry'.
In recent seasons, the South African team have secured a two of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the home nations team to be regarded as the team of their period.
The All Blacks have continued to defeat the Irish team when it matters most, beating Saturday's opponents in the tournament knockout stages of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a pair of the last fixtures with the English team, have defeated the Welsh side in every encounter since 1963 and have always been victorious by Scotland.
Evolving Landscape
But the loss of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.
Whereas the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the last ten years - securing eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as lifting the global trophy on several instances - the global tournament of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power shifted in the global game.
New Zealand overcame South Africa in their initial fixture of the competition in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.
After that event, the New Zealand's success rate has fallen to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, since the start of 2023, have won at a frequency (83%) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.
Direct Competition
Throughout the same period, the Springboks have secured victory in the majority of the recent encounters between the sides, comprising triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.
During their pursuit of their most recent southern hemisphere crown, the Springboks administered a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team thanks to overwhelming display in their home ground, a outcome which has ignited another wave of controversy about the development of the team under their leader.
Perhaps most concerning for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their characteristic physicality, South Africa's success has come with an creative approach more commonly connected with their own side.
Playing Philosophy
When the New Zealand team were at the height of their capabilities in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of destroying opponents from every section of the playing surface and at any moment of the game.
Now, their attacking style is more ambiguous as the coach, who has given numerous first caps during his two years in control, tries to first establish the more prosaic foundations of a competitive squad.
It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member overseeing attack, the current coach, will depart his position after the fall series, making him the additional person of the coaching staff to exit after another coach left last year after just five Tests.
Team Development
It was not only Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was expected to transfer from previous club when he assumed control after the recent tournament but, so far, each continue to be a continuous improvement.
Commercial Considerations
When financial organization Silver Lake acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the following communication spoke of the "quest of new global opportunities" for the team.
That objective has maybe been more challenging by the lack of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the group of related players continue to be recognizable personalities in the game, but the concentration of talented players has become more diverse. The captain is the sole All Black to receive World Player of the Year in the current era, in opposition to ten awards in over a decade between previous generations.
Global Expansion
Rather, attempts have been made to transplant the All Blacks into new territories.
The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to Dublin but the American city, a revisit to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland secured a landmark success in the contest during past tours.
After the relaxation of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have also
