🔗 Share this article Will the All Blacks find their winning form this autumn? The New Zealand team have secured victory in 71% of their matches during the 2020s Aiming for what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an crucial period. Matches against the Irish team, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the coming month but, quite aside from the possibility to match the squads of previous successful tours in the record books, the games will be used as a benchmark to measure the development of the squad under a leader now well established from assuming control. Team Issues Concerns over a shortage of an distinctive approach, ongoing discussions over selection and departures from the backroom staff have all fueled the sense that the best-known side in the sport is currently one in a state of flux. Most pertinently, it is the drop in results from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has led some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the age of New Zealand dominance. Recent History Before their departure for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that during the following season, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will play South Africa in a summer series termed 'an unprecedented series'. Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is clear agreement over who has currently outperformed of what marketers have called 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'. During the last decade, the Springboks have secured a pair of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be regarded as the squad of their generation. New Zealand have continued to defeat Ireland when it is crucial, defeating this weekend's rivals in the tournament knockout stages of recent years. They have, meanwhile, lost just two of the last fixtures with the English team, have beaten the Welsh side in all matches since over sixty years ago and have remained unbeaten by Scotland. Evolving Landscape But the loss of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation. Whereas the All Blacks reigned supreme through the previous decade - winning 87% of their fixtures, as well as lifting the global trophy on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the balance of power moved in the international rugby. New Zealand beat South Africa in their first game of the competition in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in Yokohama. After that event, the All Blacks' winning percentage has dropped to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of 2023, have won at a frequency (eighty-three percent) to rival even the former Kiwi champions. The New Zealand team will compete in four Tests against South Africa in the coming years Direct Competition During the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the recent encounters between the sides, including triumph in the latest global tournament decider. In claiming their latest southern hemisphere crown, the Springboks administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks thanks to overwhelming display in Wellington, a score which has triggered another series of discussion concerning the direction of the team under Robertson. Maybe most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their traditional strength, South Africa's triumph has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their traditional rivals. Style Evolution When the New Zealand team were at the height of their abilities in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit capable of shredding opponents from all areas of the playing surface and at any point of the contest. Now, their offensive approach is less defined as Robertson, who has awarded 19 debuts during his two years in charge, tries to first establish the fundamental building blocks of a successful side. It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member overseeing scoring, the current coach, will exit the team after the fall series, making him the second member of management team to leave after Leon MacDonald walked away last year after just limited matches. Performance Gap It was not just his winning record, but his methodology, that was predicted to carry over from previous club when he took over after the 2023 World Cup but, as yet, the two aspects are still a continuous improvement. The star player was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2023 Business Factors When private equity firm Silver Lake bought a stake in All Blacks in the past, the ensuing statement spoke of the "pursuit of worldwide growth" for the brand. That objective has maybe been more challenging by the shortage of a international celebrity. The current captain and the group of related players continue to be recognizable personalities in the game, but the concentration of key individuals has expanded significantly. The captain is the only All Black to earn global recognition in the current era, in comparison to 10 in multiple seasons between the mid-2000s. Worldwide Reach Instead, efforts have been implemented to establish the All Blacks into previously untapped markets. The opening phase of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland achieved a first ever victory in the match nine years ago. After the relaxation of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have also