🔗 Share this article Can the New Zealand rugby team regain their winning form in the upcoming matches? The New Zealand team have secured victory in 71% of their games during the 2020s Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an crucial period. Fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, in addition to the chance to match the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to assess the improvement of the side under a leader now 24 months into from assuming control. Team Issues Concerns over a lack of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over selection and leavings from the management team have all added to the sense that the best-known side in the sport is presently one in a state of flux. Most significantly, it is the drop in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of the last decade that has prompted some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the period of Kiwi superiority. Team Record Prior to their travel for the fall series, it was announced that next year, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will meet South Africa in a summer series termed 'an unprecedented series'. Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what promoters have described 'The Premier Rivalry'. During the last decade, the Springboks have claimed a couple of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the home nations team to be considered as the squad of their period. The All Blacks have continued to overcome the Irish team when it is crucial, beating Saturday's opponents in the global competition of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, lost just two of the recent encounters with England, have beaten Wales in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have always been victorious by Scotland. Shifting Balance But the loss of their standing as the sport's measure of excellence will remain frustrating. Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the previous decade - securing eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as winning the global trophy on two occasions - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the hierarchical structure moved in the world sport. The All Blacks beat the Springboks in their first game of the championship in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the championship match. From that point, the New Zealand's winning percentage has fallen to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, from the beginning of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to rival even the previous All Blacks side. The All Blacks will compete in several games against South Africa in future seasons Head-to-Head During the same period, the South African team have won the majority of the recent encounters between the opponents, including triumph in the 2023 World Cup final. In claiming their current regional title, South Africa administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks through 36 unanswered second-half points in the capital, a result which has triggered another series of debate regarding the direction of the squad under Robertson. Possibly most concerning for fans of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their usual power, South Africa's success has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their traditional rivals. Team Identity At the time that the All Blacks were at the zenith of their abilities a decade past, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit equipped of shredding rivals from every section of the pitch and at any moment of the contest. Today, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has awarded multiple new players during his two years in command, tries to primarily create the fundamental core elements of a competitive squad. It has previously announced that the supporting manager overseeing scoring, the current coach, will leave his role after the upcoming matches, becoming the additional person of management team to leave after another coach walked away last year after just five Tests. Expectations vs Reality It was not merely Robertson's success, but his approach, that was expected to translate from Crusaders when he took over after the global competition but, to date, each are still a work in progress. Ardie Savea was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2023 Business Factors When private equity firm Silver Lake bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the subsequent announcement mentioned the "pursuit of international expansion" for the team. That task has perhaps been more challenging by the shortage of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the collection of Barrett brothers continue to be recognizable personalities in the game, but the distribution of stars has become more diverse. Their leader is the single New Zealand player to earn global recognition in the recent years, in contrast to 10 in over a decade between the mid-2000s. International Growth Rather, initiatives have been implemented to transplant the All Blacks into previously untapped markets. The opening phase of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the stadium where Ireland achieved a historic win in the contest during past tours. Since the easing of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have furthermore