Can the All Blacks rediscover their winning form during the fall tour?
Pursuing what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the All Blacks have headed north at an interesting juncture.
Fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the upcoming weeks but, quite aside from the opportunity to equal the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a measure to evaluate the progress of the side under a manager now well established from taking up the reins.
Present Difficulties
Questions over a absence of an clear playing identity, enduring debates over team picks and exits from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the feeling that the best-known side in the rugby is presently one in a time of change.
Most significantly, it is the dip in performances from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to theorize that we have moved out of the era of New Zealand dominance.
Past Performance
Ahead of their departure for the European tour, it was confirmed that in the coming year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a warm-weather tour termed 'a unique competition'.
In the past the rugby's premier teams, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what promoters have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.
In recent seasons, the South African team have secured a pair of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the home nations team to be viewed as the squad of their era.
New Zealand have continued to beat Ireland when it is crucial, beating Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a couple of the last fixtures with England, have defeated Wales in each game since the sixties and have always been victorious by Scotland.
Changing Dynamics
But the diminishment of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will remain frustrating.
Whereas the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the last ten years - winning eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as winning the global trophy on multiple times - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be seen as when the competitive landscape moved in the world sport.
New Zealand defeated South Africa in their first game of the championship in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in the championship match.
After that event, the New Zealand's winning percentage has declined to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.
Direct Competition
Over the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have won the majority of the seven meetings between the opponents, comprising success in the latest global tournament decider.
During their pursuit of their current regional title, the Springboks inflicted a historic loss on the New Zealand team courtesy of overwhelming display in their home ground, a result which has triggered another round of discussion about the direction of the team under Robertson.
Maybe most jarring for followers of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, South Africa's triumph has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their own side.
Style Evolution
During the period when the New Zealand team were at the height of their abilities a decade past, they were a clinical transition team able of destroying competitors from all areas of the playing surface and at all times of the contest.
Now, their attacking style is unclear as their leader, who has awarded numerous first caps during his recent tenure in control, tries to first establish the fundamental foundations of a competitive squad.
It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager overseeing scoring, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the autumn tour, making him the next individual of Robertson's ticket to exit after previous staff member left last year after just a handful of games.
Team Development
It was not only his winning record, but his approach, that was anticipated to carry over from his former team when he took over after the 2023 World Cup but, so far, both are still a continuous improvement.
Commercial Considerations
When financial organization the company bought a stake in All Blacks in the past, the following communication spoke of the "pursuit of worldwide growth" for the organization.
That task has maybe been more difficult by the lack of a global icon. Their key player and the collection of family members continue to be well-known figures in the game, but the concentration of stars has expanded significantly. Their leader is the sole New Zealand player to earn World Player of the Year in the current era, in opposition to ten awards in over a decade between 2005 and '07.
Worldwide Reach
Alternatively, initiatives have been implemented to introduce the All Blacks into emerging regions.
The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to Dublin but Chicago, a return to the stadium where Ireland achieved a landmark success in the contest nine years ago.
Since the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have additionally
