Can the All Blacks find their winning form in the upcoming matches?
Pursuing what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their legendary past, the New Zealand side have headed north at an interesting juncture.
Matches against Ireland, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the coming month but, in addition to the opportunity to equal the sides of previous successful tours in the history books, the matches will be used as a yardstick to assess the development of the side under a leader now 24 months into from taking up the reins.
Current Challenges
Questions over a lack of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over team picks and leavings from the backroom staff have all contributed to the sense that the most recognisable team in the rugby is now one in a period of transition.
Most pertinently, it is the decline in outcomes from a previous peak set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the period of Kiwi superiority.
Team Record
Ahead of their journey for the fall series, it was confirmed that in the coming year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will meet South Africa in a warm-weather tour termed 'an unprecedented series'.
Traditionally the game's two strongest sides, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what marketers have described 'The Premier Rivalry'.
Over the past seven years, the Springboks have secured a couple of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the home nations team to be regarded as the squad of their era.
New Zealand have persisted to beat Ireland when it is crucial, overcoming Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of the past two tournaments. They have, meanwhile, lost just a couple of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have beaten Wales in every encounter since the sixties and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.
Changing Dynamics
But the decline of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.
Although the New Zealand team dominated through the previous decade - securing 87% of their fixtures, as well as lifting the World Cup on two occasions - the global tournament of 2019 can now be viewed as when the balance of power moved in the world sport.
The All Blacks defeated the Springboks in their initial fixture of the championship in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in Yokohama.
From that point, the All Blacks' victory ratio has fallen to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, from the beginning of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.
Recent Encounters
Over the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have secured victory in five of the recent encounters between the opponents, including success in the 2023 World Cup final.
While securing their latest regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks courtesy of overwhelming display in their home ground, a outcome which has triggered another wave of debate about the development of the side under their leader.
Maybe most concerning for followers of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their traditional strength, South Africa's achievement has come with an attacking verve more typically linked with their traditional rivals.
Team Identity
At the time that the New Zealand team were at the peak of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of shredding competitors from all areas of the field and at any moment of the match.
Now, their attacking style is less defined as their leader, who has handed out numerous first caps during his 24 months in command, tries to first establish the fundamental building blocks of a successful side.
It has recently revealed that the assistant coach overseeing attack, the current coach, will exit the team after the fall series, becoming the next individual of Robertson's ticket to exit after Leon MacDonald departed last year after just limited matches.
Expectations vs Reality
It was not merely Robertson's success, but his approach, that was anticipated to translate from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, to date, the two aspects continue to be a ongoing development.
Organizational Strategy
Following investment group investors acquired shares in All Blacks in 2022, the ensuing statement mentioned the "pursuit of worldwide growth" for the brand.
That task has maybe been harder by the absence of a crossover star. Ardie Savea and the trio of family members continue to be household names in the rugby, but the distribution of talented players has never been spread wider. The captain is the only All Black to earn World Player of the Year in the current era, in opposition to 10 in 13 years between previous generations.
Global Expansion
Alternatively, attempts have been implemented to introduce the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.
The first leg of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the stadium where Ireland secured a landmark success in the fixture during past tours.
After the easing of health protocols, the New Zealand team have furthermore
