🔗 Share this article Can the New Zealand rugby team regain their winning form this autumn? The New Zealand team have won 71% of their matches during the 2020s Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their legendary past, the All Blacks have headed north at an interesting juncture. Fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, beyond the chance to join the sides of previous successful tours in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the progress of the side under a head coach now well established from beginning his tenure. Present Difficulties Concerns over a lack of an clear playing identity, enduring debates over team picks and leavings from the management team have all contributed to the feeling that the most recognisable team in the sport is currently one in a period of transition. Most pertinently, it is the decline in results from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has caused some to speculate that we have moved out of the period of New Zealand dominance. Recent History Before their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was announced that in the coming year, in the non-existence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will face South Africa in a off-season matches called 'a unique competition'. Historically the rugby's premier teams, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what marketers have called 'The Premier Rivalry'. During the last decade, the Springboks have secured a pair of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be considered as the squad of their era. The All Blacks have maintained to beat Ireland when it matters most, beating Saturday's opponents in the global competition of the past two tournaments. They have, meanwhile, lost just two of the past 21 meetings with England, have beaten Wales in every encounter since 1963 and have always been victorious by Scotland. Evolving Landscape But the diminishment of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle. Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the previous decade - winning eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as lifting the global trophy on multiple times - the global tournament of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power moved in the international rugby. New Zealand beat South Africa in their initial fixture of the championship in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama. After that event, the All Blacks' success rate has declined to 71%. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of last year, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to compete with even the previous All Blacks side. The New Zealand team will compete in multiple matches against the Springboks in 2026 Direct Competition During the same period, the South African team have secured victory in five of the past fixtures between the sides, including victory in the 2023 World Cup final. While securing their most recent southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a historic loss on the New Zealand team courtesy of 36 unanswered second-half points in the capital, a outcome which has triggered another round of debate regarding the direction of the squad under their leader. Perhaps most concerning for followers of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their traditional strength, the Springboks' success has come with an offensive flair more typically linked with their own side. Team Identity At the time that the New Zealand team were at the peak of their abilities a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine able of shredding competitors from all areas of the field and at all times of the game. Now, their offensive approach is less defined as Robertson, who has given multiple new players during his recent tenure in command, tries to first establish the more prosaic building blocks of a successful side. It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager in charge of attack, the current coach, will leave his role after the fall series, becoming the second member of Robertson's ticket to exit after previous staff member walked away last year after just limited matches. Performance Gap It was not merely his winning record, but his approach, that was anticipated to transfer from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, as yet, the two aspects remain a continuous improvement. The star player was selected as global player of the year in 2023 Commercial Considerations Following private equity firm Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in 2022, the subsequent announcement mentioned the "quest of new global opportunities" for the team. That goal has possibly been more difficult by the lack of a international celebrity. Their key player and the collection of family members are still household names in the rugby, but the concentration of key individuals has expanded significantly. Their leader is the single All Black to receive international honors in the current era, in opposition to ten awards in over a decade between previous generations. International Growth Instead, initiatives have been made to transplant the All Blacks into previously untapped markets. The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to Dublin but Chicago, a comeback to the stadium where Ireland achieved a landmark success in the contest during past tours. Following the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have furthermore