Can the All Blacks find their spark this autumn?

Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their legendary past, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Games against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, beyond the possibility to match the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the fixtures will be used as a yardstick to measure the development of the squad under a manager now 24 months into from taking up the reins.

Current Challenges

Concerns over a absence of an identifiable style, enduring debates over selection and leavings from the backroom staff have all contributed to the perception that the most famous squad in the game is presently one in a state of flux.

Most significantly, it is the dip in results from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to suggest that we have evolved beyond of the age of All Black exceptionalism.

Recent History

Prior to their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that in the coming year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will meet South Africa in a summer series termed 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what marketers have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have claimed a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the side of their era.

New Zealand have maintained to defeat the Irish team when it matters most, overcoming Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, additionally, lost just a couple of the past 21 meetings with England, have defeated the Welsh side in all matches since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the diminishment of their status as the game's gold standard will continue to rankle.

Whereas the All Blacks excelled through the last ten years - securing 87% of their Test matches, as well as winning the global trophy on several instances - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the competitive landscape shifted in the world sport.

The All Blacks overcame the Springboks in their first game of the championship in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the final.

Since then, the New Zealand's winning percentage has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of 2023, have won at a percentage (83%) to compete with even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

Throughout the comparable duration, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the recent encounters between the sides, including triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their most recent continental championship, the Springboks delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team thanks to dominant performance in Wellington, a result which has ignited another series of discussion about the progress of the side under their leader.

Maybe most concerning for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, South Africa's success has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their traditional rivals.

Team Identity

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the peak of their abilities a decade past, they were a clinical transition team capable of destroying rivals from any part of the pitch and at any moment of the game.

Now, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has given numerous first caps during his recent tenure in command, tries to primarily create the fundamental building blocks of a winning team.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager responsible for offense, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the fall series, becoming the next individual of the coaching staff to exit after previous staff member left last year after just limited matches.

Performance Gap

It was not just previous achievements, but his methodology, that was expected to transfer from Crusaders when he took over after the recent tournament but, so far, both are still a continuous improvement.

Commercial Considerations

After investment group the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in the past, the subsequent announcement discussed the "quest of international expansion" for the team.

That task has maybe been harder by the shortage of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the group of related players continue to be well-known figures in the rugby, but the distribution of stars has expanded significantly. The captain is the only All Black to win international honors in the recent years, in contrast to ten awards in over a decade between the mid-2000s.

Worldwide Reach

Rather, attempts have been undertaken to introduce the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to Dublin but Chicago, a return to the stadium where Ireland obtained a first ever victory in the fixture during past tours.

After the easing of health protocols, the New Zealand team have also