Will the All Blacks find their winning form this autumn?
Seeking what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an pivotal moment.
Games against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, beyond the opportunity to join the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a measure to measure the development of the team under a manager now two years on from assuming control.
Present Difficulties
Doubts over a absence of an distinctive approach, enduring debates over team picks and exits from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the sense that the most recognisable team in the sport is currently one in a period of transition.
Most significantly, it is the dip in performances from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the period of All Black exceptionalism.
Past Performance
Prior to their departure for the fall series, it was revealed that during the following season, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play South Africa in a summer series called 'a tour like no other'.
In the past the game's two strongest sides, there is clear agreement over who has lately dominated of what organizers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.
During the last decade, the South African team have won a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the home nations team to be viewed as the squad of their era.
The All Blacks have continued to overcome the Irish team when it is crucial, defeating their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of the past two tournaments. They have, additionally, lost just two of the last fixtures with England, have beaten Wales in all matches since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.
Shifting Balance
But the loss of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.
Whereas the New Zealand team dominated through the 2010s - achieving 87% of their international games, as well as winning the World Cup on several instances - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape changed in the global game.
New Zealand defeated the Springboks in their first game of the championship in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in the championship match.
From that point, the New Zealand's success rate has declined to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in ten of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of 2023, have won at a rate (83%) to compete with even the last great New Zealand team.
Recent Encounters
Over the same period, the South African team have won the majority of the past fixtures between the teams, including success in the recent championship match.
In claiming their most recent southern hemisphere crown, South Africa administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks courtesy of 36 unanswered second-half points in their home ground, a result which has triggered another round of debate regarding the direction of the squad under their leader.
Perhaps most jarring for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their traditional strength, South Africa's success has come with an attacking verve more typically linked with their opposition team.
Team Identity
When the New Zealand team were at the peak of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a clinical transition team capable of shredding competitors from any part of the playing surface and at all times of the game.
Now, their attacking style is less defined as Robertson, who has given numerous first caps during his 24 months in charge, tries to initially build the fundamental building blocks of a winning team.
It has previously announced that the backroom staff member overseeing scoring, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the fall series, making him the additional person of Robertson's ticket to depart after previous staff member left last year after just a handful of games.
Team Development
It was not just Robertson's success, but his approach, that was predicted to carry over from previous club when he took over after the 2023 World Cup but, so far, each remain a work in progress.
Commercial Considerations
Following private equity firm the company invested capital in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the subsequent announcement spoke of the "quest of new global opportunities" for the brand.
That task has possibly been more challenging by the lack of a international celebrity. The current captain and the group of Barrett brothers remain well-known figures in the game, but the concentration of key individuals has never been spread wider. The captain is the only New Zealand player to win World Player of the Year in the current era, in opposition to ten awards in multiple seasons between previous generations.
International Growth
Instead, attempts have been made to introduce the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.
The initial stage of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the location where Ireland achieved a landmark success in the match nine years ago.
Following the relaxation of health protocols, the All Blacks have furthermore
