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Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their legendary past, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an interesting juncture.

Matches against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the possibility to equal the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a yardstick to assess the improvement of the side under a leader now two years on from taking up the reins.

Team Issues

Doubts over a shortage of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over player choices and departures from the coaching ticket have all added to the perception that the most famous squad in the rugby is now one in a state of flux.

Most significantly, it is the drop in performances from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has caused some to speculate that we have transitioned away of the period of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Prior to their departure for the European tour, it was announced that in the coming year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a summer series called 'a tour like no other'.

Historically the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what organizers have described 'The Ultimate Contest'.

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have secured a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be considered as the team of their era.

The All Blacks have persisted to overcome the Irish team when it is crucial, overcoming their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of the past two tournaments. They have, additionally, been defeated in just two of the past 21 meetings with England, have beaten the Welsh side in each game since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Changing Dynamics

But the diminishment of their position as the rugby's benchmark will persist as an irritation.

Whereas the All Blacks reigned supreme through the last ten years - winning 87% of their international games, as well as winning the global trophy on several instances - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape moved in the global game.

The All Blacks overcame the Springboks in their opening match of the competition in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in the championship match.

After that event, the All Blacks' victory ratio has dropped to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of 2023, have won at a percentage (83%) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

Throughout the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have secured victory in five of the recent encounters between the sides, comprising victory in the recent championship match.

In claiming their latest regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks courtesy of dominant performance in Wellington, a outcome which has ignited another round of controversy regarding the development of the team under their leader.

Maybe most concerning for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their usual power, the Springboks' success has come with an offensive flair more commonly connected with their traditional rivals.

Style Evolution

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the height of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a clinical transition team equipped of destroying competitors from all areas of the field and at any moment of the contest.

Now, their offensive approach is less defined as the coach, who has awarded multiple new players during his recent tenure in command, tries to initially build the basic building blocks of a successful side.

It has previously announced that the backroom staff member overseeing scoring, the current coach, will exit the team after the fall series, becoming the additional person of management team to leave after Leon MacDonald walked away last year after just five Tests.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not merely Robertson's success, but his approach, that was expected to transfer from his former team when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, so far, each continue to be a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

When private equity firm investors bought a stake in All Blacks in 2022, the subsequent announcement spoke of the "pursuit of international expansion" for the brand.

That objective has maybe been more difficult by the absence of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the group of related players are still household names in the sport, but the concentration of stars has expanded significantly. The captain is the only New Zealand player to earn World Player of the Year in the current era, in contrast to ten awards in 13 years between previous generations.

Global Expansion

Alternatively, initiatives have been implemented to transplant the All Blacks into new territories.

The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the location where Ireland secured a first ever victory in the fixture nine years ago.

Following the easing of health protocols, the All Blacks have additionally