🔗 Share this article Will the All Blacks find their spark during the fall tour? The New Zealand team have secured victory in 71% of their fixtures during the current decade Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have headed north at an crucial period. Matches against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, beyond the opportunity to match the squads of previous successful tours in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a measure to evaluate the improvement of the squad under a leader now well established from beginning his tenure. Team Issues Concerns over a lack of an identifiable style, continuing controversies over team picks and exits from the coaching ticket have all added to the sense that the most famous squad in the game is now one in a state of flux. Most pertinently, it is the decline in results from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has led some to speculate that we have evolved beyond of the age of New Zealand dominance. Recent History Before their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that next year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in a summer series dubbed 'a unique competition'. In the past the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has lately dominated of what marketers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'. During the last decade, the South African team have won a pair of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be viewed as the side of their era. The All Blacks have persisted to defeat Ireland when it is crucial, defeating Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, additionally, been defeated in just two of the past 21 meetings with England, have defeated Wales in each game since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by Scotland. Shifting Balance But the decline of their status as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating. While the New Zealand team excelled through the previous decade - winning eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as lifting the World Cup on several instances - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the hierarchical structure shifted in the global game. New Zealand defeated the Springboks in their opening match of the tournament in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were eventually successful in the championship match. After that event, the New Zealand's success rate has dropped to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of 2023, have achieved victory at a rate (83%) to match even the last great New Zealand team. The All Blacks will compete in four Tests against South Africa in future seasons Direct Competition Throughout the same period, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the recent encounters between the sides, featuring triumph in the 2023 World Cup final. During their pursuit of their current regional title, the Springboks administered a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team through 36 unanswered second-half points in their home ground, a result which has ignited another series of discussion regarding the direction of the squad under the coach. Maybe most concerning for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their usual power, South Africa's achievement has come with an offensive flair more commonly connected with their traditional rivals. Playing Philosophy During the period when the New Zealand team were at the peak of their abilities in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine able of shredding competitors from all areas of the field and at any point of the contest. Today, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as their leader, who has handed out numerous first caps during his recent tenure in command, tries to initially build the fundamental core elements of a successful side. It has recently revealed that the supporting manager in charge of attack, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the upcoming matches, becoming the next individual of Robertson's ticket to exit after Leon MacDonald walked away last year after just five Tests. Team Development It was not only Robertson's success, but his approach, that was predicted to transfer from his former team when he took over after the recent tournament but, as yet, both continue to be a continuous improvement. The team leader was named World Rugby Player of the Year in last year Commercial Considerations After private equity firm the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the ensuing statement spoke of the "search of worldwide growth" for the team. That task has perhaps been more difficult by the absence of a crossover star. Their key player and the trio of family members remain recognizable personalities in the sport, but the concentration of stars has become more diverse. Their leader is the sole New Zealand player to earn World Player of the Year in the current era, in contrast to 10 in over a decade between 2005 and '07. International Growth Alternatively, attempts have been undertaken to transplant the All Blacks into emerging regions. The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a return to the location where Ireland obtained a historic win in the match during past tours. After the reduction of health protocols, the All Blacks have additionally