🔗 Share this article Can the New Zealand rugby team regain their magic in the upcoming matches? The All Blacks have secured victory in 71% of their games during the current decade Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their legendary past, the New Zealand side have headed north at an pivotal moment. Games against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the coming month but, in addition to the opportunity to match the teams of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the games will be used as a measure to assess the progress of the squad under a leader now 24 months into from taking up the reins. Current Challenges Questions over a lack of an identifiable style, enduring debates over team picks and departures from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the sense that the best-known side in the rugby is now one in a period of transition. Most significantly, it is the dip in performances from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has prompted some to suggest that we have moved out of the era of Kiwi superiority. Past Performance Ahead of their journey for the fall series, it was announced that next year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a warm-weather tour dubbed 'a tour like no other'. Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is little doubt over who has currently outperformed of what promoters have labeled 'The Premier Rivalry'. During the last decade, the Springboks have secured a pair of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the home nations team to be considered as the side of their generation. The All Blacks have maintained to beat Ireland when it matters most, defeating their next challengers in the tournament knockout stages of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, been defeated in just a pair of the last fixtures with England, have defeated the Welsh side in each game since 1963 and have always been victorious by the Scottish team. Evolving Landscape But the diminishment of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will persist as an irritation. Whereas the All Blacks dominated through the 2010s - winning eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as lifting the global trophy on several instances - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be seen as when the competitive landscape changed in the global game. The All Blacks beat the Springboks in their initial fixture of the tournament in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama. Since then, the New Zealand's victory ratio has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of last year, have won at a rate (eighty-three percent) to compete with even the last great New Zealand team. The All Blacks will compete in several games against the Springboks in future seasons Direct Competition During the same period, the 'Boks have won five of the recent encounters between the sides, including victory in the latest global tournament decider. While securing their current regional title, South Africa inflicted a historic loss on the New Zealand team thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in Wellington, a result which has sparked another series of discussion concerning the progress of the squad under their leader. Perhaps most troubling for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, South Africa's triumph has come with an creative approach more commonly connected with their own side. Style Evolution During the period when the New Zealand team were at the peak of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a clinical transition team equipped of destroying competitors from any part of the pitch and at any point of the match. Now, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has handed out numerous first caps during his two years in command, tries to first establish the basic core elements of a successful side. It has recently revealed that the assistant coach overseeing offense, their offensive coordinator, will depart his position after the upcoming matches, becoming the additional person of the coaching staff to depart after another coach walked away last year after just five Tests. Expectations vs Reality It was not only Robertson's success, but his approach, that was expected to translate from previous club when he assumed control after the global competition but, to date, both continue to be a ongoing development. The star player was named international star in the previous season Organizational Strategy When investment group the company bought a stake in All Blacks in the past, the following communication mentioned the "pursuit of worldwide growth" for the brand. That task has perhaps been more challenging by the absence of a crossover star. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers are still well-known figures in the sport, but the concentration of stars has expanded significantly. Savea is the only All Black to win World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in opposition to 10 in multiple seasons between previous generations. International Growth Alternatively, efforts have been undertaken to transplant the All Blacks into new territories. The initial stage of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a comeback to the location where the Irish team secured a historic win in the match nine years ago. After the easing of health protocols, the All Blacks have also