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Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an crucial period.

Games against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, quite aside from the chance to equal the sides of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to assess the development of the team under a head coach now well established from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Concerns over a lack of an distinctive approach, enduring debates over team picks and leavings from the coaching ticket have all added to the sense that the most famous squad in the game is currently one in a state of flux.

Most pertinently, it is the drop in outcomes from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the age of Kiwi superiority.

Past Performance

Prior to their journey for the European tour, it was revealed that next year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will meet South Africa in a warm-weather tour called 'a tour like no other'.

In the past the sport's top competitors, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what marketers have called 'The Premier Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have secured a pair of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be regarded as the team of their period.

The All Blacks have continued to defeat the Irish team when it counts most, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the global competition of the past two tournaments. They have, meanwhile, lost just two of the past 21 meetings with England, have beaten Wales in all matches since 1963 and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

But the diminishment of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.

Although the New Zealand team dominated through the 2010s - achieving 87% of their international games, as well as winning the World Cup on two occasions - the global tournament of 2019 can now be regarded as when the competitive landscape changed in the world sport.

New Zealand overcame South Africa in their first game of the championship in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in the final.

Since then, the New Zealand's winning percentage has declined to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in ten of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of last year, have won at a frequency (eighty-three percent) to rival even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

During the comparable duration, the 'Boks have won five of the past fixtures between the opponents, featuring triumph in the latest global tournament decider.

In claiming their most recent southern hemisphere crown, South Africa delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team thanks to overwhelming display in the capital, a outcome which has ignited another wave of controversy about the direction of the team under their leader.

Perhaps most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' success has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their opposition team.

Team Identity

When the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their capabilities in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine able of destroying opponents from all areas of the pitch and at any point of the match.

Now, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has given multiple new players during his 24 months in control, tries to first establish the more prosaic foundations of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach in charge of scoring, Jason Holland, will depart his position after the autumn tour, becoming the second member of the coaching staff to exit after previous staff member left last year after just five Tests.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not just previous achievements, but his methodology, that was predicted to translate from his former team when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, so far, the two aspects continue to be a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

When financial organization the company acquired shares in All Blacks in recent years, the following communication mentioned the "search of new global opportunities" for the team.

That objective has perhaps been more challenging by the lack of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the group of family members continue to be well-known figures in the rugby, but the distribution of key individuals has expanded significantly. Their leader is the only All Black to win international honors in the past six seasons, in contrast to ten awards in multiple seasons between the mid-2000s.

Global Expansion

Alternatively, attempts have been undertaken to establish the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.

The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland obtained a historic win in the fixture during past tours.

After the reduction of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have also