Can the All Blacks regain their spark during the fall tour?
Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the New Zealand side have headed north at an crucial period.
Matches against Ireland, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await the All Blacks across the upcoming weeks but, quite aside from the opportunity to equal the teams of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a measure to evaluate the progress of the side under a manager now 24 months into from beginning his tenure.
Current Challenges
Questions over a absence of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over selection and departures from the backroom staff have all contributed to the perception that the most famous squad in the sport is now one in a time of change.
Most pertinently, it is the drop in results from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the age of Kiwi superiority.
Recent History
Before their departure for the European tour, it was revealed that next year, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will face the Springboks in a off-season matches termed 'a unique competition'.
In the past the rugby's premier teams, there is clear agreement over who has currently outperformed of what organizers have called 'The Premier Rivalry'.
In recent seasons, the Springboks have won a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the home nations team to be viewed as the side of their period.
The All Blacks 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 pair of the last fixtures with England, have defeated Wales in all matches since over sixty years ago and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.
Evolving Landscape
But the loss of their status as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.
Whereas the New Zealand team excelled through the 2010s - winning 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on several instances - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the competitive landscape changed in the world sport.
The All Blacks overcame the Springboks in their initial fixture of the tournament in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.
After that event, the New Zealand's success rate has fallen to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, from the beginning of last year, have achieved victory at a rate (83%) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.
Direct Competition
During the same period, the South African team have secured victory in the majority of the past fixtures between the opponents, featuring success in the latest global tournament decider.
During their pursuit of their latest regional title, the Springboks inflicted a historic loss on the New Zealand team through overwhelming display in the capital, a outcome which has triggered another series of debate concerning the direction of the side under Robertson.
Perhaps most concerning for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, South Africa's achievement has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their own side.
Style Evolution
At the time that the New Zealand team were at the height of their abilities in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of shredding opponents from all areas of the playing surface and at all times of the game.
Today, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has awarded multiple new players during his 24 months in charge, tries to primarily create the more prosaic foundations of a successful side.
It has recently revealed that the backroom staff member in charge of attack, the current coach, will exit the team after the upcoming matches, making him the additional person of Robertson's ticket to leave after another coach departed last year after just a handful of games.
Team Development
It was not just previous achievements, but his approach, that was predicted to translate from his former team when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, as yet, both continue to be a ongoing development.
Commercial Considerations
Following investment group investors bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the subsequent announcement discussed the "quest of international expansion" for the brand.
That goal has possibly been harder by the absence of a global icon. The current captain and the trio of related players are still household names in the sport, but the distribution of stars has expanded significantly. Their leader is the sole New Zealand player to win international honors in the current era, in comparison to 10 in over a decade between previous generations.
Worldwide Reach
Alternatively, efforts have been made to transplant the All Blacks into emerging regions.
The first leg of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but Chicago, a return to the location where the Irish team achieved a landmark success in the fixture during past tours.
After the relaxation of health protocols, the All Blacks have also
