🔗 Share this article

Aiming for what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an crucial period.

Games against the Irish team, the Scottish side, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the upcoming weeks but, beyond the possibility to equal the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the matches will be used as a measure to assess the improvement of the squad under a manager now 24 months into from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Doubts over a shortage of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over selection and exits from the backroom staff have all added to the feeling that the most famous squad in the rugby is presently one in a period of transition.

Most significantly, it is the decline in performances from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has caused some to theorize that we have moved out of the age of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Prior to their departure for the fall series, it was revealed that in the coming year, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in a summer series called 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally the game's two strongest sides, there is little doubt over who has currently outperformed of what organizers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have claimed a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the northern hemisphere selection to be viewed as the team of their period.

The All Blacks have continued to overcome Ireland when it is crucial, beating this weekend's rivals in the tournament knockout stages of recent years. They have, at the same time, lost just two of the last fixtures with the English team, have defeated the Welsh side in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the diminishment of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the 2010s - winning 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on several instances - the World Cup of 2019 can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape changed in the global game.

The All Blacks defeated the Springboks in their first game of the championship in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.

Since then, the All Blacks' success rate has fallen to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their following games but, commencing of 2023, have achieved victory at a frequency (83%) to compete with even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

Over the same period, the Springboks have won five of the past fixtures between the sides, comprising success in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their most recent southern hemisphere crown, the Springboks administered a historic loss on the All Blacks courtesy of 36 unanswered second-half points in the capital, a outcome which has sparked another round of discussion about the direction of the team under their leader.

Maybe most jarring for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their traditional strength, the Springboks' triumph has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their own side.

Team Identity

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the height of their powers a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine able of dismantling opponents from any part of the field and at any point of the game.

Currently, their offensive approach is unclear as the coach, who has given multiple new players during his 24 months in control, tries to first establish the fundamental foundations of a successful side.

It has previously announced that the supporting manager overseeing offense, Jason Holland, will exit the team after the fall series, becoming the second member of management team to depart after previous staff member walked away last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not merely Robertson's success, but his approach, that was expected to transfer from previous club when he took over after the recent tournament but, to date, each continue to be a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

Following investment group the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in the past, the subsequent announcement spoke of the "search of new global opportunities" for the team.

That goal has maybe been more challenging by the lack of a global icon. Their key player and the trio of Barrett brothers are still recognizable personalities in the game, but the distribution of stars has become more diverse. The captain is the sole New Zealand player to earn World Player of the Year in the current era, in comparison to 10 in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Alternatively, efforts have been made to transplant the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a return to the location where Ireland obtained a historic win in the match during past tours.

Following the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the New Zealand team have furthermore