A cloak of invincibility surrounded the All Blacks for so long that it felt like their dominance would go on for ever.
But the last few years have seen South Africa defend their world title, Ireland record historic back-to-back wins against them and Argentina beat the All Blacks in their own backyard.
So as they begin their tour of the northern hemisphere the question is, do the current crop have the aura of formidable sides past?
There was a time when their swagger and confidence would see opposition teams beaten before a ball was kicked or passed.
The intimidation of the pre-match haka certainly played a part in that. But now, New Zealand’s opponents sense a chance where there previously was none.
New Zealand’s aura is being questioned as they head on their northern hemisphere tour
The All Blacks were beaten in last year’s World Cup final by South Africa to lose their crown
A shock defeat to Argentina in August has raised more questions about New Zealand’s team
‘I think a lot of teams will look at New Zealand and think they can win,’ All Blacks great and former captain Sean Fitzpatrick told Mail Sport. ‘It’s the start of a new cycle for the team. There are a lot of positive signs, but it’s about this generation of new players learning to close games out.
‘Game management has been an issue. As a New Zealander, I don’t like losing games, but that’s Test rugby at the moment. The All Blacks aren’t going to go 18 games undefeated like they have in the past. Even the Springboks of today aren’t going to do that.’
Some have been more scathing.
‘Something weird has happened with New Zealand,’ former Ireland wing Shane Horgan said earlier this year. ‘That complete aura which felt like invincibility is not there in the way that it was. It’s just not. Let’s keep them down while we can.’
Horgan’s comments were perhaps over the top, given New Zealand knocked Ireland out of last year’s World Cup. The All Blacks have not become a bad team overnight.
On Saturday, the lure and mystique of the most famous team in international rugby will see Twickenham sold out for their clash with England. And their rebuilding, being undertaken by new head coach Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson, will have the hosts fully believing they can win.
But thinking that is one thing. Doing it is another. The All Blacks are still a potent weapon.
‘The All Blacks have lost a lot of experience and key players which can’t be underestimated,’ said Conrad Smith, a double World Cup winner with New Zealand in 2011 and 2015. ‘It was always going to be a rebuild to some extent. You can look at the way they’ve lost games and be critical of that. But a lot of that comes down to experience.
New Zealand have not become a bad team overnight and knocked Ireland out of the World Cup
New head coach Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson is overseeing a rebuilding job with the All Blacks
The rebuild will give England coach Steve Borthwick hope ahead of their clash at Twickenham
New Zealand’s side to face England will still contain superstar names like Ardie Savea
‘These November games will be a continuation of that learning curve. The teams I played in had the benefit of not really going through a big rebuild. I never felt like we couldn’t lose, that’s for sure! But I know what people mean about the aura of the team because we had so much trust and belief in each other.
‘That has to be earned through experience. Talent wise, I can’t fault them. This year, New Zealand have lost Tests but they’re still a team I love to watch. I’d be far more disappointed if they were losing and also weren’t creating opportunities or scoring tries. That’s not the case.
‘It’s what I love about the All Blacks. We’ve come to expect entertainment as well as wins. But to get the whole package does take time, particularly at international level.’
New Zealand’s side to face England will contain superstar names such as Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan and Ardie Savea. But there is no doubt Robertson has had no choice but to give the next generation a chance after he succeeded Ian Foster.
The likes of Aaron Smith, Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick have all now moved on.
‘It was Razor’s choice to a degree as to who he played this year,’ said Fitzpatrick. ‘What he’s done is say “Give us the toughest year in year one of the World Cup cycle” because by the end of the season, that will mean he’ll know where the team have holes.
‘He’s given Damian McKenzie a great run at 10, but decided that’s not the way he wants it and is set to go back to Barrett. They’ve got a great front row. There are no issues there.
‘When you look at the Rugby Championship in the summer, there is no doubt the home defeat by Argentina was disappointing. But they played two games with South Africa in South Africa against clearly the best team in the world.
Beauden Barrett was among the star names to head to England early to acclimatise
New Zealand won 64-19 against Japan in Yokohama despite key players being rested
Amid a rebuilding process, New Zealand are set to face some considerable challenges
‘They could quite possibly have won one, if not both of those matches. The pressure in New Zealand is the same as it ever was. The players must understand that.’
Despite their rebuild, New Zealand were still too good for England on home soil in July. They won the series 2-0. Steve Borthwick’s side should arguably have won both those matches and will undoubtedly be hopeful that home advantage will help them to turn the tables. But, conversely, the All Blacks should now be more used to Robertson’s methods.
New Zealand beat Eddie Jones’s Japan 64-19 in Yokohama. Their best players missed that game with England in mind, the likes of Barrett travelling over to the United Kingdom early to acclimatise and ensure they are in the best possible shape for the hotly anticipated London clash.
‘You’ve got to realise New Zealand have new coaches and a lot of the players haven’t been coached by Razor before,’ said Fitzpatrick.
‘It’s a different playing style under a new management team. The demands on the players are new for some of them, certainly in terms of expectation.
SIR CLIVE WOODWARD’S THREE KIWI NEW BOYS TO WATCH
Samipeni Finau
Position: Lock and back-row
Age: 25
After losing two second-row greats in Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick, New Zealand are rebuilding their forward engine room. Scott Barrett is still there and as captain, but Scott Robertson is looking for new locks to come forward.
Finau, who made his Test debut last year, is a versatile player and he was at No6 against Japan. He is thought of as a fine prospect.
Wallace Sititi
Position: Back-row
Age: 22
The youngest player to be selected in Scott Robertson’s first New Zealand squad and served notice of his immense talent with an outstanding individual performance against South Africa last month, on his 22nd birthday.
Sititi has pace and power and is incredibly dynamic. He’s not overly big, but he’s hugely athletic and has a phenomenal engine on him. He is rated very, very highly by Robertson. He can play a number of forward positions but the Samoan-born ace could be New Zealand’s long-term answer at No 6.
Cam Roigard
Position: Scrum-half
Age: 23
Part of New Zealand’s squad at last year’s World Cup and has been identified as the heir apparent to the great Aaron Smith.
His progress was hit by a serious knee injury in March which forced him to miss the July Tests with England. But he is fit again now and started against Japan. He will likely be first-choice No9 for the All Blacks in the years to come.
‘This autumn, New Zealand are playing three of the best teams in the world in three consecutive weeks. It’s how they deal with that. What happens if they lose to England? They’re then playing Ireland on a Friday night in Dublin. Ireland will be waiting for that. They haven’t forgotten what happened at the World Cup. Then they’ve got France.
‘I think it’s great. As rugby fans, competition is what we want and I think that’s what we’ll get this autumn. Don’t get me wrong, I like it when New Zealand win.
‘I expect them to and they are good enough to. People need to understand the All Blacks are rebuilding, but the fans don’t really like that too much!
‘I was really impressed by England in the summer. Both teams are quite young so for me, it’s going to be about who makes fewer mistakes. It’s going to be a very close game.’
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