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Pursuing what would be just a fifth tour victory in their legendary past, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an crucial period.

Games against the Irish team, the Scottish side, England and Wales await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the possibility to match the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the games will be used as a yardstick to evaluate the progress of the squad under a manager now well established from taking up the reins.

Current Challenges

Concerns over a absence of an clear playing identity, enduring debates over selection and departures from the management team have all contributed to the sense that the most famous squad in the sport is presently one in a time of change.

Most significantly, it is the drop in results from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has prompted some to speculate that we have evolved beyond of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Recent History

Ahead of their departure for the European tour, it was announced that next year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a warm-weather tour termed 'an unprecedented series'.

In the past the sport's top competitors, there is little doubt over who has currently outperformed of what organizers have labeled 'The Premier Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have secured a pair of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be viewed as the side of their generation.

The All Blacks have continued to beat the Irish team when it is crucial, defeating Saturday's opponents in the global competition of recent years. They have, at the same time, lost just a pair of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have beaten Wales in each game since over sixty years ago and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

But the loss of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.

Although the All Blacks dominated through the last ten years - winning 87% of their Test matches, as well as winning the World Cup on several instances - the global tournament of 2019 can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape shifted in the international rugby.

The All Blacks beat the Springboks in their first game of the tournament in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in the final.

From that point, the All Blacks' winning percentage has dropped to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of last year, have won at a rate (eighty-three percent) to match even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

Over the comparable duration, the 'Boks have won the majority of the past fixtures between the opponents, comprising triumph in the recent championship match.

While securing their latest southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a significant beating on the New Zealand team courtesy of dominant performance in Wellington, a result which has sparked another wave of controversy concerning the progress of the side under their leader.

Maybe most troubling for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their traditional strength, South Africa's success has come with an creative approach more usually associated with their traditional rivals.

Style Evolution

At the time that the All Blacks were at the peak of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine able of shredding rivals from all areas of the field and at any moment of the contest.

Currently, their attacking style is less defined as the coach, who has handed out numerous first caps during his two years in command, tries to initially build the more prosaic foundations of a competitive squad.

It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager in charge of attack, Jason Holland, will exit the team after the fall series, becoming the second member of Robertson's ticket to exit after previous staff member left last year after just five Tests.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not only previous achievements, but his approach, that was predicted to transfer from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, as yet, each continue to be a ongoing development.

Business Factors

Following financial organization investors invested capital in All Blacks in 2022, the following communication mentioned the "search of new global opportunities" for the organization.

That objective has possibly been more difficult by the shortage of a international celebrity. The current captain and the trio of related players remain well-known figures in the sport, but the concentration of stars has never been spread wider. Their leader is the sole All Black to receive World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in contrast to 10 in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

Global Expansion

Instead, efforts have been made to transplant the All Blacks into new territories.

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but Chicago, a return to the location where the Irish team obtained a first ever victory in the fixture during past tours.

Following the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have also