Roughly once a decade throughout the 20th century, a group of South Seas islanders in the guise of the New Zealand All Blacks would invade Europe to teach the old world the ways of the new.

There were reverses, notably at the hands of Wales in 1905, 1935 and 1953, three of the first four games between the two small rugby-mad nations. But the win-loss ratio remained overwhelmingly in favour of the All Blacks, whose distinctive all-black uniform and pre-match haka (Maori war dance) enhanced their special aura.

Familiarity, the curse of modern sport with its perpetually swelling fixture lists, has inevitably diluted the appeal of the All Blacks who now visit Europe once a year along with the other southern hemisphere nations.

There are, though, more fundamental reasons for querying a common assumption that the All Blacks are the once and future kings of world rugby.

Their record against European opposition is still undeniably impressive. Under head coach Graham Henry, New Zealand have won 16 times in Europe and lost just once since 2004.

That defeat, though, is more significant than all the wins put together.

Dismissed on the official All Blacks website as a “blemish”, the 20-18 Cardiff loss to France in the 2007 World Cup quarter-finals represents the earliest exit for New Zealand at the quadrennial tournament.

The current All Blacks are undoubtedly entertaining, partly through necessity as they throw the ball about to compensate for the loss of the forward dominance they enjoyed for most of the 20th century.

Captain Richie McCaw and flyhalf Daniel Carter would be serious candidates for a place in a mythical all-time All Blacks side. Yet something more than a rugby match was lost in Cardiff on the evening of October 6, 2007.

New Zealand had assembled a squad which possessed world class players in all positions and on paper looked at least a dozen points better than their closest rivals.

Despite all their advantages and the most meticulous of buildups, they were still unable to summon the guile or wit to get three points in the final 10 minutes against the French.

The World Cup is the arena in which Henry and the All Blacks must be judged. Henry was given a handsome budget and a free rein before the 2007 tournament, held 20 years after New Zealand’s sole triumph, but still presided over the country’s worst performance.

Even victory in 2011, when they will be hosts and probably again the bookmakers’ favourites, will not assuage the sceptics. Current champions South Africa, Australia and England have each won the Webb Ellis trophy on foreign soil.

Failure to win the ultimate prize since David Kirk held the Webb Ellis aloft at Eden Park in 1987, remains the reason New Zealand can not be ranked with Brazil, winners of the football World Cup a record five times, or the Australian cricketers, winners of the last three 50 overs World Cups.

Even in the 20th century, South Africa were consistently the world’s best team both home and away before they were banished into the sporting wilderness through widespread revulsion at their brutal racial policies.

The Springboks won the 1995 World Cup at home at the first time of asking after their return from apartheid exile. They won again in Paris in 2007. This year they defeated the British and Irish Lions and were by some distance the best side in the Tri-Nations.

It is they, not the All Blacks, who will rightly command the most respect when they visit Europe this month.

PHOTO: New Zealand All Blacks captain Richie McCaw (C) stands between his players as they perform the Haka before taking on Australia’s Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup at Olympic Stadium in Tokyo October 31, 2009. REUTERS/Toru Hanai