Can the All Blacks find their spark during the fall tour?
Seeking what would be just a fifth tour victory in their storied history, the All Blacks have headed north at an interesting juncture.
Fixtures against Ireland, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the chance to join the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the improvement of the team under a leader now 24 months into from taking up the reins.
Present Difficulties
Doubts over a absence of an identifiable style, continuing controversies over player choices and exits from the management team have all fueled the perception that the most recognisable team in the sport is presently one in a state of flux.
Most significantly, it is the dip in outcomes from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has led some to theorize that we have moved out of the era of All Black exceptionalism.
Recent History
Prior to their departure for the fall series, it was revealed that during the following season, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will meet the Springboks in a warm-weather tour dubbed 'a unique competition'.
In the past the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what organizers have described 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.
Over the past seven years, the South African team have claimed a two of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the home nations team to be considered as the team of their era.
The All Blacks have maintained to defeat the Irish team when it is crucial, defeating their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just two of the recent encounters with England, have defeated the Welsh side in all matches since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.
Evolving Landscape
But the loss of their standing as the game's gold standard will remain frustrating.
While the All Blacks dominated through the previous decade - securing 87% of their fixtures, as well as lifting the World Cup on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the competitive landscape shifted in the global game.
New Zealand overcame the Springboks in their first game of the championship in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.
From that point, the All Blacks' winning percentage has dropped to 71%. South Africa themselves lost ten of their following games but, since the start of 2023, have won at a frequency (eighty-three percent) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.
Direct Competition
Throughout the comparable duration, the South African team have won five of the recent encounters between the opponents, comprising victory in the 2023 World Cup final.
During their pursuit of their latest southern hemisphere crown, South Africa delivered a significant beating on the All Blacks thanks to overwhelming display in the capital, a score which has triggered another wave of controversy concerning the progress of the squad under Robertson.
Perhaps most concerning for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' success has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their opposition team.
Playing Philosophy
During the period when the All Blacks were at the height of their capabilities a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine able of dismantling rivals from every section of the playing surface and at any point of the match.
Now, their attacking style is unclear as their leader, who has awarded 19 debuts during his two years in charge, tries to first establish the basic foundations of a winning team.
It has previously announced that the assistant coach overseeing scoring, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the fall series, becoming the additional person of Robertson's ticket to leave after another coach walked away last year after just a handful of games.
Performance Gap
It was not only Robertson's success, but his style, that was predicted to carry over from previous club when he assumed control after the global competition but, as yet, both continue to be a work in progress.
Organizational Strategy
When investment group the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in the past, the subsequent announcement discussed the "search of worldwide growth" for the brand.
That task has possibly been more difficult by the shortage of a crossover star. The current captain and the trio of Barrett brothers remain well-known figures in the game, but the concentration of key individuals has never been spread wider. The captain is the sole New Zealand player to earn World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in opposition to ten awards in over a decade between previous generations.
Global Expansion
Rather, efforts have been undertaken to establish the All Blacks into emerging regions.
The initial stage of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a return to the location where the Irish team achieved a landmark success in the contest during past tours.
Following the easing of health protocols, the New Zealand team have additionally