Will the All Blacks rediscover their winning form during the fall tour?
Aiming for what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have headed north at an crucial period.
Games against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the coming month but, quite aside from the possibility to equal the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the progress of the side under a head coach now 24 months into from beginning his tenure.
Current Challenges
Doubts over a lack of an distinctive approach, enduring debates over selection and departures from the backroom staff have all contributed to the sense that the most recognisable team in the game is now one in a period of transition.
Most importantly, it is the drop in results from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the era of New Zealand dominance.
Past Performance
Ahead of their travel for the fall series, it was announced that next year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play the Springboks in a warm-weather tour called 'a tour like no other'.
Traditionally the game's two strongest sides, there is clear agreement over who has recently got the better of what promoters have labeled 'The Premier Rivalry'.
In recent seasons, the Springboks have claimed a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a series against the home nations team to be considered as the team of their period.
New Zealand have persisted to overcome Ireland when it is crucial, overcoming Saturday's opponents in the tournament knockout stages of the past two tournaments. They have, additionally, been defeated in just two of the past 21 meetings with England, have defeated Wales in all matches since over sixty years ago and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.
Shifting Balance
But the diminishment of their position as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.
Although the New Zealand team excelled through the last ten years - achieving 87% of their fixtures, as well as lifting the World Cup on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power changed in the international rugby.
The All Blacks defeated the Springboks in their opening match of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in the championship match.
From that point, the All Blacks' winning percentage has declined to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of last year, have achieved victory at a frequency (83%) to compete with even the previous All Blacks side.
Recent Encounters
Over the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the past fixtures between the teams, featuring triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.
During their pursuit of their latest regional title, South Africa inflicted a significant beating on the New Zealand team courtesy of overwhelming display in the capital, a result which has ignited another series of discussion regarding the direction of the side under Robertson.
Maybe most troubling for followers of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their traditional strength, the Springboks' success has come with an attacking verve more typically linked with their opposition team.
Style Evolution
At the time that the New Zealand team were at the height of their powers 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of dismantling competitors from any part of the pitch and at all times of the game.
Now, their playing philosophy is unclear as the coach, who has awarded multiple new players during his 24 months in control, tries to initially build the more prosaic core elements of a successful side.
It has recently revealed that the assistant coach overseeing scoring, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the autumn tour, making him the additional person of management team to exit after another coach departed last year after just limited matches.
Team Development
It was not just Robertson's success, but his style, that was predicted to carry over from Crusaders when he assumed control after the global competition but, to date, the two aspects remain a work in progress.
Commercial Considerations
When private equity firm the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the following communication discussed the "quest of new global opportunities" for the brand.
That goal has possibly been more difficult by the lack of a international celebrity. Their key player and the collection of related players remain recognizable personalities in the rugby, but the spread of talented players has become more diverse. The captain is the single All Black to earn international honors in the recent years, in comparison to ten awards in multiple seasons between the mid-2000s.
Worldwide Reach
Instead, initiatives have been implemented to introduce the New Zealand team into new territories.
The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a revisit to the location where Ireland achieved a first ever victory in the match during past tours.
Following the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the New Zealand team have furthermore
