Will the All Blacks find their winning form this autumn?

Aiming for what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the New Zealand side have headed north at an pivotal moment.

Fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the possibility to match the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a measure to measure the progress of the side under a manager now two years on from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Doubts over a lack of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over player choices and leavings from the management team have all contributed to the perception that the most recognisable team in the game is presently one in a period of transition.

Most importantly, it is the dip in performances from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has led some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the age of Kiwi superiority.

Past Performance

Before their travel for the European tour, it was announced that in the coming year, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will meet South Africa in a off-season matches called 'a unique competition'.

Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is little doubt over who has lately dominated of what promoters have called 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have won a two of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the home nations team to be considered as the squad of their era.

New Zealand have continued to overcome Ireland when it matters most, beating Saturday's opponents in the tournament knockout stages of the past two tournaments. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just a couple of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have overcome Wales in every encounter since the sixties and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

But the diminishment of their standing as the game's gold standard will remain frustrating.

Although the All Blacks reigned supreme through the last ten years - achieving eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the hierarchical structure moved in the world sport.

The All Blacks defeated the Springboks in their first game of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

After that event, the All Blacks' victory ratio has fallen to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, from the beginning of last year, have achieved victory at a frequency (83%) to match even the former Kiwi champions.

Head-to-Head

Throughout the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have won the majority of the past fixtures between the teams, comprising triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their latest regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a significant beating on the All Blacks through dominant performance in their home ground, a outcome which has triggered another wave of controversy regarding the progress of the squad under the coach.

Perhaps most troubling for followers of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' achievement has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their traditional rivals.

Team Identity

During the period when the All Blacks were at the height of their abilities a decade past, they were a clinical transition team equipped of dismantling competitors from every section of the pitch and at any point of the contest.

Today, their attacking style is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has handed out numerous first caps during his recent tenure in charge, tries to initially build the basic building blocks of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach responsible for attack, Jason Holland, will exit the team after the fall series, becoming the second member of Robertson's ticket to depart after Leon MacDonald walked away last year after just a handful of games.

Team Development

It was not merely Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was predicted to transfer from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, as yet, the two aspects are still a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

After financial organization investors invested capital in New Zealand rugby in the past, the ensuing statement mentioned the "pursuit of international expansion" for the organization.

That task has maybe been more challenging by the lack of a crossover star. The current captain and the trio of related players continue to be well-known figures in the game, but the distribution of talented players has never been spread wider. Their leader is the single All Black to receive international honors in the recent years, in opposition to 10 in multiple seasons between 2005 and '07.

Global Expansion

Instead, efforts have been made to transplant the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team obtained a historic win in the contest nine years ago.

After the relaxation of health protocols, the New Zealand team have additionally