🔗 Share this article

Pursuing what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an interesting juncture.

Fixtures against the Irish team, Scotland, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the upcoming weeks but, beyond the possibility to join the squads of previous successful tours in the history books, the games will be used as a measure to assess the development of the team under a head coach now two years on from beginning his tenure.

Current Challenges

Doubts over a absence of an clear playing identity, enduring debates over team picks and departures from the management team have all fueled the perception that the most recognisable team in the game is currently one in a period of transition.

Most significantly, it is the decline in outcomes from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has prompted some to speculate that we have transitioned away of the period of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Prior to their journey for the European tour, it was announced that next year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will meet South Africa in a summer series called 'an unprecedented series'.

Historically the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has recently got the better of what organizers have labeled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have secured a couple of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be viewed as the team of their era.

The All Blacks have persisted to overcome the Irish team when it matters most, overcoming 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 the English team, have beaten the Welsh side in every encounter since 1963 and have always been victorious by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

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

Although the All Blacks dominated through the last ten years - achieving eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as claiming the World Cup on two occasions - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the hierarchical structure shifted in the international rugby.

New Zealand overcame South Africa in their opening match of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in the championship match.

From that point, the All Blacks' winning percentage has fallen to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, commencing of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to compete with even the previous All Blacks side.

Head-to-Head

During the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have secured victory in five of the past fixtures between the sides, including triumph in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their latest southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks through 36 unanswered second-half points in the capital, a outcome which has sparked another round of debate regarding the progress of the team under the coach.

Perhaps most jarring for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their characteristic physicality, South Africa's success has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their traditional rivals.

Playing Philosophy

At the time that the All Blacks were at the zenith of their capabilities in previous eras, they were a clinical transition team able of dismantling competitors from every section of the playing surface and at any moment of the match.

Currently, their attacking style is unclear as the coach, who has handed out 19 debuts during his two years in charge, tries to initially build the basic foundations of a competitive squad.

It has previously announced that the supporting manager in charge of attack, the current coach, will exit the team after the upcoming matches, becoming the second member of the coaching staff to exit after another coach departed last year after just limited matches.

Performance Gap

It was not only previous achievements, but his approach, that was predicted to carry over from Crusaders when he assumed control after the recent tournament but, to date, each remain a ongoing development.

Business Factors

When private equity firm investors acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the ensuing statement mentioned the "quest of worldwide growth" for the brand.

That objective has maybe been harder by the lack of a international celebrity. The current captain and the group of related players remain well-known figures in the game, but the distribution of key individuals has expanded significantly. The captain is the only All Black to receive World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in opposition to 10 in multiple seasons between previous generations.

International Growth

Instead, attempts have been undertaken to establish the New Zealand team into new territories.

The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the stadium where Ireland achieved a historic win in the match nine years ago.

Following the easing of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have additionally