Can the All Blacks regain their spark this autumn?
Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an interesting juncture.
Fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the chance to equal the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the fixtures will be used as a measure to measure the development of the team under a head coach now two years on from beginning his tenure.
Team Issues
Concerns over a shortage of an distinctive approach, enduring debates over player choices and exits from the management team have all added to the feeling that the best-known side in the game is presently one in a time of change.
Most significantly, it is the drop in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to speculate that we have transitioned away of the era of New Zealand dominance.
Recent History
Prior to their journey for the European tour, it was revealed that during the following season, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in a warm-weather tour dubbed 'a tour like no other'.
In the past the rugby's premier teams, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what promoters have labeled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.
Over the past seven years, the South African team have claimed a couple of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the squad of their generation.
The All Blacks have continued to beat Ireland when it matters most, beating their next challengers in the global competition of recent years. They have, additionally, been defeated in just two of the recent encounters with the English team, have overcome the Welsh side in each game since 1963 and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.
Changing Dynamics
But the loss of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.
While the New Zealand team excelled through the last ten years - achieving eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as winning the global trophy on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the hierarchical structure changed in the international rugby.
The All Blacks overcame South Africa in their opening match of the competition in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in Yokohama.
Since then, the New Zealand's success rate has fallen to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.
Head-to-Head
Over the comparable duration, the 'Boks have secured victory in the majority of the recent encounters between the teams, including success in the recent championship match.
While securing their latest southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in Wellington, a outcome which has triggered another wave of controversy regarding the direction of the team under their leader.
Possibly most concerning for followers of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' triumph has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their opposition team.
Style Evolution
At the time that the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their capabilities a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of destroying rivals from every section of the pitch and at all times of the match.
Now, their attacking style is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has given numerous first caps during his 24 months in control, tries to first establish the fundamental building blocks of a successful side.
It has recently revealed that the assistant coach responsible for scoring, Jason Holland, will depart his position after the autumn tour, making him the additional person of management team to leave after another coach left last year after just limited matches.
Team Development
It was not merely his winning record, but his style, that was anticipated to transfer from his former team when he took over after the 2023 World Cup but, so far, the two aspects are still a work in progress.
Business Factors
When private equity firm investors acquired shares in All Blacks in 2022, the ensuing statement spoke of the "quest of international expansion" for the organization.
That objective has maybe been harder by the lack of a crossover star. Their key player and the group of Barrett brothers remain household names in the rugby, but the spread of talented players has never been spread wider. Savea is the sole New Zealand player to earn global recognition in the current era, in opposition to 10 in over a decade between the mid-2000s.
Worldwide Reach
Instead, efforts have been implemented to establish the All Blacks into emerging regions.
The first leg of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland obtained a historic win in the contest nine years ago.
After the relaxation of health protocols, the New Zealand team have also
