🔗 Share this article

Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their legendary past, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an crucial period.

Fixtures against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, beyond the possibility to equal the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the games will be used as a yardstick to assess the development of the squad under a head coach now 24 months into from beginning his tenure.

Current Challenges

Concerns over a absence of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over team picks and leavings from the management team have all added to the feeling that the most recognisable team in the rugby is presently one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the drop in outcomes from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the period of Kiwi superiority.

Past Performance

Prior to their journey for the fall series, it was revealed that during the following season, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will face South Africa in a warm-weather tour called 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally the game's two strongest sides, there is clear agreement over who has recently got the better of what promoters have called 'The Premier Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have claimed a pair of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the squad of their generation.

New Zealand have persisted to overcome Ireland when it is crucial, beating this weekend's rivals in the global competition of recent years. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a couple of the past 21 meetings with England, have overcome the Welsh side in each game since over sixty years ago and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.

Shifting Balance

But the decline of their position as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.

Whereas the New Zealand team excelled through the previous decade - winning eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as claiming the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the global tournament of 2019 can now be seen as when the balance of power moved in the global game.

The All Blacks defeated South Africa in their first game of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were eventually successful in the championship match.

Since then, the All Blacks' winning percentage has fallen to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of last year, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

Throughout the comparable duration, the Springboks have won five of the seven meetings between the teams, featuring victory in the recent championship match.

In claiming their latest southern hemisphere crown, South Africa inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team thanks to dominant performance in Wellington, a result which has triggered another wave of controversy concerning the development of the squad under Robertson.

Possibly most concerning for fans of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their traditional strength, South Africa's achievement has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their own side.

Playing Philosophy

When the All Blacks were at the peak of their abilities in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of dismantling opponents from every section of the field and at any point of the game.

Now, their attacking style is less defined as Robertson, who has awarded 19 debuts during his two years in command, tries to initially build the basic core elements of a successful side.

It has previously announced that the backroom staff member responsible for scoring, the current coach, will leave his role after the upcoming matches, becoming the additional person of Robertson's ticket to leave after Leon MacDonald walked away last year after just limited matches.

Performance Gap

It was not only his winning record, but his methodology, that was expected to translate from previous club when he assumed control after the 2023 World Cup but, as yet, each are still a work in progress.

Commercial Considerations

After financial organization investors invested capital in New Zealand rugby in the past, the following communication mentioned the "search of new global opportunities" for the team.

That goal has maybe been more difficult by the lack of a global icon. The current captain and the group of family members are still well-known figures in the rugby, but the concentration of key individuals has become more diverse. Savea is the only New Zealand player to receive World Player of the Year in the current era, in opposition to ten awards in multiple seasons between the mid-2000s.

Global Expansion

Instead, attempts have been undertaken to introduce the New Zealand team into new territories.

The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to Dublin but Chicago, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team secured a historic win in the contest during past tours.

Since the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the New Zealand team have also