🔗 Share this article Can the All Blacks rediscover their magic during the fall tour? The All Blacks have won seventy-one percent of their matches during the current decade Pursuing what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment. Matches against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the coming month but, quite aside from the possibility to join the squads of previous successful tours in the history books, the games will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the improvement of the team under a leader now two years on from taking up the reins. Team Issues Concerns over a lack of an clear playing identity, enduring debates over player choices and departures from the coaching ticket have all fueled the perception that the best-known side in the sport is now one in a state of flux. Most importantly, it is the dip in performances from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has prompted some to speculate that we have moved out of the period of New Zealand dominance. Team Record Before their departure for the northern hemisphere, it was announced that in the coming year, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will play South Africa in a summer series termed 'a tour like no other'. Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what organizers have described 'The Ultimate Contest'. Over the past seven years, the Springboks have claimed a couple of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the home nations team to be regarded as the side of their period. New Zealand have maintained to overcome the Irish team when it is crucial, beating Saturday's opponents in the global competition of recent years. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just two of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have beaten Wales in every encounter since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team. Evolving Landscape But the loss of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will remain frustrating. While the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the last ten years - winning 87% of their Test matches, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be seen as when the competitive landscape changed in the global game. The All Blacks defeated the Springboks in their initial fixture of the competition in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in the final. From that point, the New Zealand's success rate has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of 2023, have won at a frequency (eighty-three percent) to match even the last great New Zealand team. The New Zealand team will compete in multiple matches against South Africa in future seasons Head-to-Head During the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have secured victory in five of the seven meetings between the teams, including triumph in the latest global tournament decider. While securing their most recent continental championship, South Africa administered a historic loss on the New Zealand team courtesy of overwhelming display in Wellington, a result which has sparked another round of controversy regarding the progress of the side under their leader. Maybe most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, South Africa's triumph has come with an creative approach more commonly connected with their traditional rivals. Style Evolution When the New Zealand team were at the height of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit equipped of dismantling rivals from all areas of the pitch and at all times of the contest. Now, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as the coach, who has handed out 19 debuts during his two years in command, tries to initially build the more prosaic building blocks of a winning team. It has previously announced that the assistant coach responsible for offense, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the fall series, making him the second member of the coaching staff to exit after previous staff member walked away last year after just five Tests. Expectations vs Reality It was not only his winning record, but his style, that was expected to transfer from his former team when he began his tenure after the global competition but, to date, each are still a continuous improvement. The team leader was selected as World Rugby Player of the Year in last year Organizational Strategy When private equity firm investors invested capital in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the ensuing statement spoke of the "quest of worldwide growth" for the team. That objective has possibly been more challenging by the lack of a crossover star. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers remain household names in the game, but the distribution of key individuals has never been spread wider. The captain is the sole All Black to receive global recognition in the recent years, in contrast to 10 in multiple seasons between 2005 and '07. Worldwide Reach Alternatively, attempts have been undertaken to transplant the New Zealand team into new territories. The opening phase of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the stadium where the Irish team secured a landmark success in the match nine years ago. After the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the New Zealand team have also