Will the All Blacks regain their winning form during the fall tour?
Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the New Zealand side have headed north at an interesting juncture.
Fixtures against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the next four weekends but, beyond the possibility to equal the teams of previous successful tours in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a measure to evaluate the progress of the squad under a leader now two years on from assuming control.
Current Challenges
Concerns over a shortage of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over player choices and leavings from the management team have all fueled the feeling that the most famous squad in the game is presently one in a time of change.
Most importantly, it is the decline in results from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has caused some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the age of All Black exceptionalism.
Team Record
Prior to their journey for the European tour, it was confirmed that next year, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will meet the Springboks in a warm-weather tour termed 'a unique competition'.
Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is little doubt over who has lately dominated of what marketers have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.
Over the past seven years, the South African team have claimed a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the northern hemisphere selection to be viewed as the squad of their generation.
The All Blacks have maintained to overcome the Irish team when it matters most, beating their next challengers in the tournament knockout stages of recent years. They have, at the same time, lost just a pair of the recent encounters with the English team, have overcome the Welsh side in all matches since the sixties and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.
Evolving Landscape
But the decline of their status as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.
Whereas the New Zealand team excelled through the last ten years - securing eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as claiming the World Cup on multiple times - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the hierarchical structure changed in the world sport.
The All Blacks overcame South Africa in their initial fixture of the competition in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in the final.
From that point, the New Zealand's victory ratio has dropped to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of last year, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to match even the last great New Zealand team.
Recent Encounters
During the comparable duration, the 'Boks have secured victory in the majority of the recent encounters between the sides, including success in the 2023 World Cup final.
During their pursuit of their latest continental championship, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a significant beating on the New Zealand team through 36 unanswered second-half points in Wellington, a outcome which has sparked another round of debate regarding the development of the side under Robertson.
Possibly most troubling for fans of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their usual power, South Africa's triumph has come with an offensive flair more typically linked with their opposition team.
Style Evolution
During the period when the New Zealand team were at the peak of their powers 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of destroying competitors from every section of the field and at all times of the contest.
Today, their attacking style is more ambiguous as the coach, who has handed out multiple new players during his two years in control, tries to initially build the more prosaic core elements of a competitive squad.
It has previously announced that the backroom staff member responsible for attack, the current coach, will depart his position after the upcoming matches, making him the next individual of Robertson's ticket to depart after previous staff member left last year after just a handful of games.
Team Development
It was not only previous achievements, but his style, that was expected to carry over from his former team when he took over after the 2023 World Cup but, as yet, each remain a work in progress.
Organizational Strategy
Following financial organization investors acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the following communication spoke of the "search of international expansion" for the team.
That task has perhaps been more difficult by the absence of a international celebrity. Their key player and the collection of related players are still recognizable personalities in the game, but the concentration of talented players has never been spread wider. Their leader is the only New Zealand player to earn global recognition in the recent years, in opposition to 10 in 13 years between the mid-2000s.
Worldwide Reach
Alternatively, initiatives have been made to establish the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.
The initial stage of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the location where the Irish team achieved a first ever victory in the fixture in previous seasons.
After the reduction of health protocols, the New Zealand team have additionally
