Can the New Zealand rugby team regain their winning form this autumn?
Pursuing what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.
Fixtures against the Irish team, Scotland, England and Wales await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the opportunity to equal the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to measure the progress of the team under a manager now well established from taking up the reins.
Present Difficulties
Doubts over a absence of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over selection and leavings from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the feeling that the most recognisable team in the game is presently one in a state of flux.
Most importantly, it is the decline in results from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has led some to speculate that we have evolved beyond of the age of All Black exceptionalism.
Recent History
Ahead of their journey for the European tour, it was announced that next year, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a off-season matches dubbed 'an unprecedented series'.
Traditionally the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what promoters have described 'The Ultimate Contest'.
During the last decade, the South African team have won a pair of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be considered as the team of their generation.
New Zealand have continued to defeat the Irish team when it is crucial, defeating Saturday's opponents in the global competition of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, been defeated in just a pair of the recent encounters with England, have defeated Wales in all matches since over sixty years ago and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.
Evolving Landscape
But the diminishment of their status as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.
Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the 2010s - winning 87% of their international games, as well as claiming the global trophy on two occasions - the global tournament of 2019 can now be regarded as when the hierarchical structure moved in the international rugby.
New Zealand beat the Springboks in their initial fixture of the championship in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.
After that event, the New Zealand's success rate has declined to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, from the beginning of last year, have won at a frequency (eighty-three percent) to rival even the last great New Zealand team.
Recent Encounters
Over the same period, the South African team have secured victory in the majority of the seven meetings between the sides, comprising victory in the 2023 World Cup final.
In claiming their latest southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team through dominant performance in Wellington, a outcome which has ignited another wave of discussion regarding the development of the squad under Robertson.
Perhaps most troubling for followers of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their traditional strength, South Africa's achievement has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their opposition team.
Style Evolution
During the period when the New Zealand team were at the height of their capabilities in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit equipped of dismantling opponents from any part of the playing surface and at any moment of the contest.
Currently, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as their leader, who has awarded multiple new players during his 24 months in command, tries to initially build the fundamental building blocks of a successful side.
It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member responsible for offense, the current coach, will depart his position after the fall series, becoming the second member of management team to exit after Leon MacDonald walked away last year after just five Tests.
Team Development
It was not merely his winning record, but his methodology, that was predicted to carry over from Crusaders when he assumed control after the recent tournament but, as yet, the two aspects are still a work in progress.
Business Factors
Following private equity firm the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in the past, the ensuing statement spoke of the "pursuit of worldwide growth" for the brand.
That goal has perhaps been more challenging by the absence of a crossover star. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers continue to be household names in the rugby, but the distribution of talented players has expanded significantly. Savea is the sole New Zealand player to receive World Player of the Year in the current era, in comparison to ten awards in 13 years between previous generations.
Global Expansion
Rather, initiatives have been made to transplant the New Zealand team into emerging regions.
The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but the American city, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team achieved a historic win in the contest during past tours.
After the relaxation of health protocols, the All Blacks have also
