🔗 Share this article

Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Fixtures against Ireland, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the possibility to equal the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the games will be used as a yardstick to evaluate the development of the squad under a leader now two years on from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Concerns over a absence of an identifiable style, enduring debates over player choices and leavings from the backroom staff have all added to the feeling that the most recognisable team in the rugby is now one in a time of change.

Most pertinently, it is the dip in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to suggest that we have evolved beyond of the age of Kiwi superiority.

Past Performance

Ahead of their travel for the European tour, it was revealed that next year, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will face South Africa in a warm-weather tour called 'a unique competition'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has recently got the better of what marketers have labeled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have claimed a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a series against the northern hemisphere selection to be viewed as the side of their period.

The All Blacks have persisted to overcome the Irish team when it matters most, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the global competition of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, been defeated in just a pair of the recent encounters with the English team, have beaten the Welsh side in each game since the sixties and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

But the loss of their status as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.

Whereas the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the previous decade - securing 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the global trophy on several instances - the global tournament of 2019 can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape changed in the international rugby.

New Zealand beat the Springboks in their opening match of the championship in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in the championship match.

Since then, the New Zealand's success rate has declined to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their following games but, commencing of 2023, have won at a percentage (83%) to match even the last great New Zealand team.

Recent Encounters

Over the same period, the South African team have won five of the recent encounters between the teams, comprising success in the recent championship match.

While securing their current continental championship, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks through dominant performance in their home ground, a result which has sparked another round of discussion regarding the direction of the squad under their leader.

Perhaps most jarring for followers of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' achievement has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their opposition team.

Style Evolution

When the All Blacks were at the height of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a clinical transition team capable of destroying opponents from all areas of the pitch and at any moment of the game.

Now, their attacking style is less defined as Robertson, who has handed out 19 debuts during his two years in command, tries to initially build the fundamental foundations of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager overseeing offense, their offensive coordinator, will depart his position after the autumn tour, becoming the second member of the coaching staff to leave after another coach departed last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not only his winning record, but his methodology, that was anticipated to carry over from his former team when he assumed control after the 2023 World Cup but, as yet, each continue to be a continuous improvement.

Organizational Strategy

Following financial organization investors acquired shares in All Blacks in 2022, the subsequent announcement discussed the "quest of new global opportunities" for the organization.

That task has possibly been harder by the shortage of a global icon. The current captain and the collection of family members remain recognizable personalities in the sport, but the distribution of talented players has never been spread wider. Savea is the sole All Black to receive international honors in the past six seasons, in contrast to ten awards in multiple seasons between 2005 and '07.

Global Expansion

Instead, efforts have been implemented to transplant the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The initial stage of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but Chicago, a revisit to the stadium where Ireland achieved a first ever victory in the match in previous seasons.

Since the easing of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have furthermore