Will the All Blacks rediscover their magic this autumn?

Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an interesting juncture.

Fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the possibility to equal the teams of previous successful tours in the record books, the fixtures will be used as a yardstick to assess the improvement of the side under a head coach now two years on from taking up the reins.

Present Difficulties

Questions over a absence of an distinctive approach, ongoing discussions over selection and departures from the backroom staff have all added to the perception that the best-known side in the sport is presently one in a time of change.

Most pertinently, it is the decline 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 era of Kiwi superiority.

Recent History

Before their journey for the fall series, it was revealed that during the following season, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will face South Africa in a warm-weather tour called 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what promoters have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have secured a couple of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be viewed as the team of their era.

New Zealand have continued to beat Ireland when it matters most, beating Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, lost just a couple of the recent encounters with England, have beaten Wales in all matches since over sixty years ago and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

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 fixtures, as well as claiming the global trophy on two occasions - the World Cup of 2019 can now be seen as when the competitive landscape moved in the international rugby.

The All Blacks beat the Springboks in their opening match of the championship in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.

From that point, the New Zealand's victory ratio has fallen to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, from the beginning of 2023, have achieved victory at a rate (eighty-three percent) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

Over the same period, the 'Boks have won the majority of the recent encounters between the opponents, including triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

While securing their most recent southern hemisphere crown, the Springboks administered a significant beating on the New Zealand team through overwhelming display in their home ground, a outcome which has triggered another wave of discussion regarding the direction of the team under their leader.

Perhaps most concerning for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their usual power, South Africa's success has come with an creative approach more usually associated with their own side.

Playing Philosophy

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the peak of their capabilities in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine able of destroying competitors from every section of the field and at all times of the match.

Today, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as the coach, who has given multiple new players during his recent tenure in command, tries to primarily create the fundamental core elements of a competitive squad.

It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member in charge of attack, their offensive coordinator, will depart his position after the fall series, becoming the second member of management team to exit after previous staff member left last year after just five Tests.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not only previous achievements, but his methodology, that was expected to transfer from his former team when he assumed control after the recent tournament but, as yet, each remain a work in progress.

Organizational Strategy

Following financial organization the company invested capital in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the following communication discussed the "quest of worldwide growth" for the team.

That goal has maybe been harder by the absence of a international celebrity. Their key player and the collection of Barrett brothers remain recognizable personalities in the sport, but the concentration of key individuals has become more diverse. Their leader is the single New Zealand player to win global recognition in the past six seasons, in contrast to ten awards in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, efforts have been made to transplant the New Zealand team into new territories.

The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a revisit to the location where Ireland secured a historic win in the fixture during past tours.

Since the reduction of health protocols, the All Blacks have furthermore