Aiming for what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their legendary past, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an interesting juncture.
Games against the Irish team, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, quite aside from the chance to match the sides of previous successful tours in the history books, the games will be used as a benchmark to measure the improvement of the side under a manager now two years on from assuming control.
Present Difficulties
Questions over a absence of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over team picks and exits from the management team have all fueled the perception that the best-known side in the rugby is presently one in a state of flux.
Most importantly, it is the decline in results from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has prompted some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the era of New Zealand dominance.
Recent History
Ahead of their journey for the European tour, it was announced that in the coming year, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will meet the Springboks in a summer series termed 'a unique competition'.
In the past the rugby's premier teams, there is clear agreement over who has recently got the better of what marketers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.
During the last decade, the South African team have claimed a two of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the home nations team to be regarded as the side of their era.
The All Blacks have maintained to overcome Ireland when it matters most, overcoming Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, been defeated in just a pair of the recent encounters with the English team, have beaten the Welsh side in all matches since over sixty years ago and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.
Shifting Balance
But the decline of their position as the game's gold standard will persist as an irritation.
While the All Blacks reigned supreme through the 2010s - achieving 87% of their Test matches, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the balance of power changed in the world sport.
New Zealand defeated South Africa in their initial fixture of the tournament in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in the championship match.
From that point, the New Zealand's success rate has dropped to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in ten of their next 26 Test matches but, from the beginning of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to match even the former Kiwi champions.
Recent Encounters
Over the same period, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the seven meetings between the sides, including victory in the 2023 World Cup final.
In claiming their most recent regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a significant beating on the New Zealand team thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in the capital, a result which has ignited another round of discussion concerning the development of the team under Robertson.
Perhaps most concerning for followers of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their traditional strength, the Springboks' triumph has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their own side.
Team Identity
At the time that the New Zealand team were at the height of their powers in previous eras, they were a clinical transition team equipped of destroying competitors from any part of the pitch and at all times of the game.
Now, their attacking style is unclear as Robertson, who has awarded multiple new players during his 24 months in control, tries to initially build the basic foundations of a winning team.
It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager in charge of offense, their offensive coordinator, will depart his position after the fall series, making him the second member of Robertson's ticket to exit after previous staff member left last year after just five Tests.
Performance Gap
It was not merely Robertson's success, but his style, that was expected to translate from previous club when he began his tenure after the global competition but, to date, each remain a ongoing development.
Commercial Considerations
Following private equity firm the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in the past, the following communication discussed the "quest of worldwide growth" for the organization.
That goal has possibly been more challenging by the lack of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the collection of related players are still recognizable personalities in the rugby, but the concentration of talented players has become more diverse. Savea is the single New Zealand player to receive global recognition in the recent years, in contrast to ten awards in over a decade between 2005 and '07.
International Growth
Instead, initiatives have been implemented to transplant the All Blacks into emerging regions.
The opening phase of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a revisit to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team achieved a first ever victory in the fixture nine years ago.
Following the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the New Zealand team have additionally
