🔗 Share this article

Seeking what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have headed north at an interesting juncture.

Matches against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, in addition to the possibility to join the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to assess the development of the side under a head coach now well established from beginning his tenure.

Current Challenges

Questions over a lack of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over selection and leavings from the management team have all added to the feeling that the most famous squad in the rugby is now one in a time of change.

Most significantly, it is the decline in outcomes from a previous peak set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to theorize that we have moved out of the age of All Black exceptionalism.

Team Record

Prior to their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that next year, in the non-existence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will face South Africa in a off-season matches termed 'a unique competition'.

Historically the rugby's premier teams, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what marketers have labeled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have won a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be considered as the squad of their era.

The All Blacks have persisted to beat the Irish team when it is crucial, defeating this weekend's rivals in the global competition of recent years. They have, meanwhile, lost just two of the last fixtures with the English team, have overcome Wales in all matches since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the loss of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will persist as an irritation.

While the All Blacks reigned supreme through the last ten years - achieving eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the balance of power shifted in the international rugby.

New Zealand overcame South Africa in their initial fixture of the championship in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.

From that point, the New Zealand's winning percentage has declined to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their following games but, from the beginning of 2023, have won at a frequency (eighty-three percent) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.

Head-to-Head

During the same period, the South African team have won five of the past fixtures between the teams, featuring success in the latest global tournament decider.

While securing their current continental championship, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a historic loss on the All Blacks thanks to dominant performance in Wellington, a result which has sparked another series of controversy concerning the development of the squad under their leader.

Perhaps most concerning for followers of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, South Africa's achievement has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their own side.

Team Identity

When the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their capabilities a decade past, they were a clinical transition team capable of destroying competitors from all areas of the field and at all times of the game.

Today, their playing philosophy is unclear as the coach, who has handed out 19 debuts during his recent tenure in command, tries to first establish the basic core elements of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the backroom staff member overseeing attack, the current coach, will depart his position after the autumn tour, becoming the second member of management team to leave after Leon MacDonald departed last year after just five Tests.

Performance Gap

It was not just Robertson's success, but his approach, that was anticipated to carry over from his former team when he took over after the recent tournament but, to date, each continue to be a work in progress.

Commercial Considerations

When financial organization Silver Lake bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the following communication discussed the "quest of worldwide growth" for the team.

That goal has perhaps been more challenging by the lack of a crossover star. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers remain household names in the sport, but the concentration of key individuals has never been spread wider. Savea is the only All Black to earn global recognition in the past six seasons, in opposition to ten awards in 13 years between previous generations.

International Growth

Instead, efforts have been undertaken to establish the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The first leg of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the location where Ireland secured a historic win in the match during past tours.

Following the reduction of health protocols, the New Zealand team have additionally