🔗 Share this article

Aiming for what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Games against Ireland, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, beyond the possibility to match the squads of previous successful tours in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a measure to evaluate the progress of the side under a manager now 24 months into from taking up the reins.

Team Issues

Doubts over a shortage of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over player choices and exits from the backroom staff have all contributed to the sense that the most famous squad in the game is now one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the drop in performances from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has led some to suggest that we have moved out of the era of All Black exceptionalism.

Team Record

Prior to their departure for the European tour, it was confirmed that during the following season, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in a off-season matches called 'a unique competition'.

In the past the sport's top competitors, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what organizers have called 'The Premier Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the South African team have won a couple of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a series against the northern hemisphere selection to be viewed as the squad of their era.

New Zealand have continued to beat Ireland when it counts most, beating Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of 2019 and '23. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a pair of the past 21 meetings with England, have defeated the Welsh side in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have always been victorious by Scotland.

Shifting Balance

But the loss of their position as the game's gold standard will persist as an irritation.

Although the All Blacks excelled through the last ten years - securing eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as winning the global trophy on multiple times - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the balance of power moved in the global game.

The All Blacks overcame the Springboks in their opening match of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the final.

After that event, the All Blacks' success rate has fallen to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to match even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

Throughout the same period, the Springboks have secured victory in the majority of the past fixtures between the sides, featuring success in the recent championship match.

During their pursuit of their current continental championship, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a significant beating on the New Zealand team thanks to dominant performance in the capital, a result which has sparked another round of controversy concerning the development of the side under Robertson.

Perhaps most troubling for fans of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their traditional strength, South Africa's triumph has come with an creative approach more usually associated with their traditional rivals.

Team Identity

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the height of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of destroying rivals from every section of the playing surface and at any point of the game.

Currently, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has awarded numerous first caps during his two years in control, tries to primarily create the more prosaic foundations of a winning team.

It has recently revealed that the backroom staff member responsible for scoring, the current coach, will leave his role after the autumn tour, making him the next individual of management team to leave after previous staff member walked away last year after just five Tests.

Team Development

It was not merely his winning record, but his approach, that was predicted to transfer from his former team when he assumed control after the global competition but, as yet, the two aspects continue to be a work in progress.

Business Factors

After financial organization the company invested capital in All Blacks in recent years, the following communication mentioned the "quest of international expansion" for the brand.

That goal has perhaps been more difficult by the lack of a international celebrity. Their key player and the collection of family members continue to be well-known figures in the game, but the distribution of stars has expanded significantly. Their leader is the sole All Black to receive international honors in the past six seasons, in contrast to 10 in multiple seasons between previous generations.

International Growth

Rather, efforts have been implemented to establish the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team obtained a historic win in the contest in previous seasons.

Following the easing of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have additionally