While European countries were involved in battles relying more and more on that new technology, the Ottoman Empire was involved in battles against countries not having introduced the innovation.
When they had to face the consequence of the transformation on the battle fields, it was too late for them, the train had left the station already.
The same has happened with NZ.
As NZ kept playing regularly against SA rugby, they kept playing against a rugby that overstressed their perception of their own physicality (the Transvaal farmer myth)
And a rugby that relentlessly kept reducing the share of rugby played game after game.
NZ failed to catch the transformation going on in the North.
They did not anticipate that the Leinster farmer could deliver a pack that measure to SA rugby but in addition, could play a high tempo, high intensity game during 80 minutes.
When they faced IR, they had to understand that rugby could not be reduced to a mere physicality dimension, but that a high physical squad could bring additional challenges to the field.
As NZ played regularly SA rugby, they came to be used to solve the physical challenge only. When they had to face FR, EN or IR, they had to solve the physical dimension of them but a few more challenges.
As a result, NZ appeared overwhelmed. Way too many challenges to face and overcome.
The main cause of the NZ decline is to have played SA rugby, a rugby that relentlessly cut down on the requirements they put on their players.
