All Blacks: How to become a tour de force

An injury-time try from Ryan Crotty was required to end the year unbeaten. Photo / Getty Images

As the All Blacks bask in the glory of their perfect season and multiple awards, a nugget of concern will trouble them as they survey the lie of the land for 2014 and beyond.

They have discovered that the longer they spend on the road together, the more vulnerable they become. They won all their away games this year but, as their November tour stretched on, they began to fray at the edges - mentally, if not physically.

They are good tourists - but only up to a point. Anything more than three weeks together and the life of an All Black becomes overwhelming.

What worries them is that they have become a massive brand in Europe, a genuine phenomenon which makes it hard, nearly impossible, for them to find a moment's peace. In a typical test week in New Zealand, the players slowly build mentally; on their recent tour, it was full-on for 28 days.

When the time comes to review 2013, much of the focus will fall on November; the growing feeling is that four tests in four weeks becomes suffocating for the All Blacks. It's not just, or even predominantly, the physical demands of backing up four times. That's tough but achievable, especially when one of the tests is against lower-ranked opposition such as Japan or the United States.

It's the almost smothering and inescapable demands made of players and their time that needs to be addressed.

The All Blacks are a rugby team like no other. They are a big deal abroad. A feature of the recent tour was the spontaneous queues of autograph hunters and well-wishers that formed in hotel lobbies.

In Ireland, a rope had to be erected in the foyer, as locals stood for hours on end, hoping to see an unsuspecting All Black emerge from the team room, and be hollered over to sign this and that.

There is no freedom from the public; rugby is a bigger sport in Europe than many appreciate and the All Blacks way bigger again. Recognition levels are high and it's not easy for someone such as Ma'a Nonu to keep himself incognito. Most of the All Blacks step outside the confines of their hotel and have to be wary of how much space they will be granted to have a coffee, catch-up with a mate or even do a bit of shopping. It is relentless.

But even that's only part of the problem. There is a burgeoning family of stakeholders who all have their needs. There are client functions, meet and greets and more demanding, commercial obligations. All of these seem to be more intense when the All Blacks are in Europe. It's a big market and it's the only time of the year when the squad is assembled for such a long, continuous block.

It looks a little like a travelling circus at times and it is believed some players were struggling with the situation by the second week of the recent tour.

It's not so intense when the team is in New Zealand for the June tests. Nor is the Rugby Championship such a chore - it is two weeks on, one week off, and the intrusions are less. Four weeks, nearly five, with all the demands piled up, starts to feel like a long time.

That the All Blacks are actively looking to take on the same 14-test, four-week November tour challenge next year might seem crazy. They feel they have two choices: don't do it, or get better at doing it.

The latter will win out because they feel that, if they are going to retain the World Cup in 2015, they have to be capable of staying unified, focused and on-task for more than four consecutive weeks. At the World Cup, they will be together and on the road for longer; possibly seven weeks all up, if they make the final.

They need to get used to extended tours; learn how to live and perform amid the plethora of demands made. Next year will possibly be even tougher because the hype of their likely American visit will be huge.

Then to England, the next World Cup hosts, to face a side who will see the test next year as their chance to strike a massive psychological blow ahead of the tournament.

Scotland and Wales is not quite the soft finish it might appear. Dealing with Edinburgh's lazy winds - they don't go round you, they go through you - will be draining and a frantic, talented Welsh team in game 14 ... a few mistakes and it will be like playing Ireland all over again.