Can the New Zealand rugby team regain their spark this autumn?
Aiming for 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 the Irish team, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the chance to join the teams of previous successful tours in the record books, the games will be used as a benchmark to measure the development of the side under a manager now well established from beginning his tenure.
Team Issues
Questions over a absence of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over player choices and exits from the backroom staff have all contributed to the perception that the most recognisable team in the game is presently one in a time of change.
Most significantly, it is the decline in outcomes from a past excellence set between the World Cups of the last decade that has caused some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the age of All Black exceptionalism.
Past Performance
Ahead of their journey for the fall series, it was revealed that next year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand 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 currently outperformed of what organizers have called 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.
During the last decade, the South African team have claimed a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the home nations team to be considered as the team of their period.
New Zealand have continued to beat the Irish team when it is crucial, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the global competition of recent years. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a couple of the recent encounters with the English team, have overcome Wales in all matches since over sixty years ago and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.
Shifting Balance
But the diminishment of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.
Whereas the All Blacks dominated through the 2010s - securing 87% of their Test matches, as well as lifting the global trophy on two occasions - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power moved in the global game.
The All Blacks beat the Springboks in their initial fixture of the competition in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.
After that event, the All Blacks' success rate has declined to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their following games but, from the beginning of last year, have won at a frequency (eighty-three percent) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.
Direct Competition
During the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have secured victory in five of the seven meetings between the opponents, including success in the latest global tournament decider.
During their pursuit of their most recent continental championship, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a significant beating on the New Zealand team courtesy of overwhelming display in their home ground, a result which has triggered another round of debate about the development of the side under the coach.
Maybe most concerning for fans of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their usual power, the Springboks' triumph has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their own side.
Team Identity
During the period when the New Zealand team were at the peak of their powers in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit capable of dismantling rivals from every section of the pitch and at any moment of the match.
Today, their offensive approach is less defined as their leader, who has awarded multiple new players during his recent tenure in command, tries to initially build the more prosaic core elements of a competitive squad.
It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member in charge of attack, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the autumn tour, making him the second member of management team to depart after Leon MacDonald departed last year after just a handful of games.
Expectations vs Reality
It was not only his winning record, but his methodology, that was anticipated to translate from Crusaders when he assumed control after the 2023 World Cup but, so far, the two aspects continue to be a continuous improvement.
Commercial Considerations
When investment group Silver Lake acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the subsequent announcement discussed the "pursuit of international expansion" for the brand.
That task has perhaps been more challenging by the shortage of a crossover star. The current captain and the trio of family members are still well-known figures in the rugby, but the spread of key individuals has never been spread wider. The captain is the single All Black to win World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in contrast to ten awards in 13 years between previous generations.
Global Expansion
Alternatively, efforts have been implemented to introduce the New Zealand team into emerging regions.
The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland achieved a landmark success in the fixture in previous seasons.
After the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have also
