🔗 Share this article

Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their legendary past, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an pivotal moment.

Matches against the Irish team, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, beyond the possibility to match the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a yardstick to measure the development of the team under a manager now 24 months into from beginning his tenure.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a lack of an distinctive approach, enduring debates over team picks and exits from the management team have all added to the perception that the most famous squad in the sport is currently one in a period of transition.

Most importantly, it is the dip in results from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has prompted some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the era of All Black exceptionalism.

Team Record

Prior to their travel for the European tour, it was announced that in the coming year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play the Springboks in a warm-weather tour termed 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what organizers have labeled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have claimed a pair of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be viewed as the side of their period.

The All Blacks have continued to overcome Ireland when it counts most, defeating this weekend's rivals in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a pair of the recent encounters with England, have defeated Wales in every encounter since 1963 and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

But the diminishment of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.

While the All Blacks dominated through the previous decade - winning 87% of their international games, as well as winning the global trophy on two occasions - the global tournament of 2019 can now be regarded as when the competitive landscape shifted in the world sport.

New Zealand beat South Africa in their initial fixture of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

After that event, the All Blacks' victory ratio has fallen to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in ten of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of 2023, have won at a rate (83%) to compete with even the previous All Blacks side.

Head-to-Head

Throughout the same period, the 'Boks have secured victory in five of the past fixtures between the teams, featuring triumph in the latest global tournament decider.

In claiming their most recent continental championship, the Springboks delivered a significant beating on the New Zealand team courtesy of 36 unanswered second-half points in the capital, a score which has ignited another series of discussion about the progress of the team under Robertson.

Possibly most concerning for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their usual power, South Africa's triumph has come with an creative approach more usually associated with their opposition team.

Playing Philosophy

When the All Blacks were at the peak of their capabilities in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit capable of shredding rivals from any part of the playing surface and at any point of the contest.

Today, their playing philosophy is less defined as the coach, who has awarded numerous first caps during his 24 months in command, tries to first establish the basic core elements of a competitive squad.

It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member in charge of attack, the current coach, will exit the team after the autumn tour, becoming the additional person of management team to leave after previous staff member walked away last year after just limited matches.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not just previous achievements, but his methodology, that was anticipated to translate from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the global competition but, to date, both continue to be a ongoing development.

Business Factors

Following investment group Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in the past, the ensuing statement discussed the "search of new global opportunities" for the team.

That task has possibly been more challenging by the absence of a international celebrity. Their key player and the trio of Barrett brothers continue to be household names in the rugby, but the distribution of stars has expanded significantly. The captain is the only New Zealand player to win international honors in the past six seasons, in contrast to 10 in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

Global Expansion

Rather, attempts have been implemented to introduce the All Blacks into new territories.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but Chicago, a revisit to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland obtained a landmark success in the fixture in previous seasons.

After the relaxation of health protocols, the All Blacks have furthermore