Can the All Blacks rediscover their winning form this autumn?
Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.
Games against the Irish team, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the coming month but, in addition to the opportunity to join the sides of previous successful tours in the history books, the matches will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the progress of the team under a manager now well established from assuming control.
Current Challenges
Questions over a shortage of an distinctive approach, enduring debates over selection and exits from the coaching ticket have all added to the feeling that the best-known side in the game is presently one in a time of change.
Most pertinently, it is the drop in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to suggest that we have moved out of the age of Kiwi superiority.
Recent History
Prior to their travel for the fall series, it was announced that in the coming year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will meet South Africa in a summer series called 'a tour like no other'.
Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is clear agreement over who has recently got the better of what promoters have called 'The Premier Rivalry'.
In recent seasons, the South African team have claimed a couple of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be considered as the side of their era.
New Zealand have continued to overcome the Irish team when it counts most, overcoming their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a pair of the recent encounters with England, have beaten Wales in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.
Evolving Landscape
But the decline of their standing as the game's gold standard will persist as an irritation.
Whereas the All Blacks dominated through the 2010s - securing eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as lifting the World Cup on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the competitive landscape changed in the global game.
The All Blacks defeated South Africa in their opening match of the championship in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in Yokohama.
After that event, the New Zealand's victory ratio has dropped to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost ten of their next 26 Test matches but, from the beginning of last year, have achieved victory at a frequency (83%) to match even the previous All Blacks side.
Recent Encounters
During the same period, the Springboks have won the majority of the past fixtures between the teams, including triumph in the latest global tournament decider.
In claiming their latest southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a significant beating on the All Blacks courtesy of overwhelming display in Wellington, a result which has triggered another wave of discussion regarding the development of the team under their leader.
Perhaps most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' achievement has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their traditional rivals.
Team Identity
During the period when the All Blacks were at the zenith of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine able of dismantling competitors from any part of the pitch and at all times of the contest.
Currently, their offensive approach is unclear as their leader, who has awarded numerous first caps during his 24 months in command, tries to primarily create the fundamental building blocks of a competitive squad.
It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach responsible for offense, Jason Holland, will exit the team after the upcoming matches, making him the next individual of Robertson's ticket to leave after previous staff member left last year after just five Tests.
Expectations vs Reality
It was not merely Robertson's success, but his approach, that was expected to carry over from previous club when he assumed control after the global competition but, so far, the two aspects remain a ongoing development.
Organizational Strategy
Following financial organization investors acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the subsequent announcement mentioned the "quest of international expansion" for the organization.
That objective has possibly been more challenging by the absence of a global icon. The current captain and the group of Barrett brothers remain well-known figures in the sport, 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 recent years, in opposition to ten awards in 13 years between previous generations.
International Growth
Rather, efforts have been undertaken to establish the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.
The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a return to the location where the Irish team secured a first ever victory in the match nine years ago.
After the relaxation of health protocols, the New Zealand team have additionally