Can the New Zealand rugby team find their winning form in the upcoming matches?
Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their illustrious legacy, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.
Games against the Irish team, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, beyond the opportunity to match the squads of previous successful tours in the record books, the matches will be used as a yardstick to assess the improvement of the squad under a manager now two years on from assuming control.
Present Difficulties
Questions over a shortage of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over selection and leavings from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the feeling that the most recognisable team in the rugby is currently one in a time of change.
Most pertinently, it is the drop in outcomes from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has prompted some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the period of All Black exceptionalism.
Recent History
Before their departure for the fall series, it was announced that in the coming year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play South Africa in a summer series termed 'a tour like no other'.
Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has currently outperformed of what marketers have described 'The Premier Rivalry'.
In recent seasons, the South African team have won a couple of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be viewed as the team of their period.
New Zealand have maintained to overcome the Irish team when it is crucial, overcoming their next challengers in the global competition of 2019 and '23. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a couple of the recent encounters with the English team, have overcome the Welsh side in every encounter since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.
Evolving Landscape
But the loss of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will remain frustrating.
Although the All Blacks dominated through the last ten years - winning 87% of their international games, as well as winning the World Cup on two occasions - the global tournament of 2019 can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape shifted in the global game.
The All Blacks overcame South Africa in their initial fixture of the competition in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in the championship match.
Since then, the All Blacks' winning percentage has fallen to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost ten of their following games but, commencing of last year, have won at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to match even the previous All Blacks side.
Recent Encounters
Over the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have won five of the past fixtures between the teams, comprising victory in the latest global tournament decider.
During their pursuit of their current continental championship, the Springboks inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks thanks to overwhelming display in the capital, a outcome which has triggered another series of debate regarding the direction of the team under the coach.
Maybe most troubling for followers of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' triumph has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their own side.
Style Evolution
When the All Blacks were at the peak of their powers in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of destroying competitors from any part of the pitch and at all times of the game.
Now, their playing philosophy is unclear as their leader, who has handed out multiple new players during his recent tenure in command, tries to initially build the basic building blocks of a competitive squad.
It has recently revealed that the assistant coach in charge of attack, Jason Holland, will depart his position after the fall series, making him the second member of management team to leave after another coach departed last year after just five Tests.
Team Development
It was not just previous achievements, but his approach, that was predicted to transfer from previous club when he assumed control after the recent tournament but, so far, both continue to be a continuous improvement.
Commercial Considerations
When investment group the company acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the ensuing statement discussed the "quest of new global opportunities" for the organization.
That goal has possibly been more difficult by the lack of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the group of Barrett brothers remain well-known figures in the rugby, but the concentration of key individuals has expanded significantly. Savea is the sole New Zealand player to win international honors in the current era, in opposition to ten awards in 13 years between 2005 and '07.
Worldwide Reach
Instead, initiatives have been made to introduce the All Blacks into emerging regions.
The first leg of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team achieved a historic win in the contest nine years ago.
Following the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have also
