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

Fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, beyond the chance to join the teams of previous successful tours in the record books, the fixtures will be used as a measure to measure the progress of the side under a manager now 24 months into from taking up the reins.

Team Issues

Concerns over a absence of an distinctive approach, enduring debates over selection and exits from the coaching ticket have all added to the feeling that the most famous squad in the game is now one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the drop in outcomes from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has led some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the age of Kiwi superiority.

Recent History

Prior to their travel for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that during the following season, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will meet South Africa in a off-season matches called 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally 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 won a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the northern hemisphere selection to be regarded as the team of their era.

The All Blacks have continued to overcome the Irish team when it counts most, beating this weekend's rivals in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, at the same time, lost just two of the recent encounters with the English team, have beaten the Welsh side in each game since over sixty years ago and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the diminishment of their status as the game's gold standard will persist as an irritation.

Whereas the All Blacks dominated through the 2010s - winning 87% of their international games, as well as lifting the World Cup on several instances - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be seen as when the balance of power shifted in the international rugby.

New Zealand beat the Springboks in their initial fixture of the championship in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in the championship match.

From that point, the New Zealand's winning percentage has declined to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, from the beginning of 2023, have achieved victory at a rate (83%) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Head-to-Head

Throughout the same period, the 'Boks have secured victory in the majority of the seven meetings between the opponents, including success in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their most recent southern hemisphere crown, South Africa administered a significant beating on the New Zealand team thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in the capital, a score which has sparked another wave of controversy concerning the direction of the team under the coach.

Maybe most concerning for followers of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their traditional strength, South Africa's achievement has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their traditional rivals.

Playing Philosophy

When the New Zealand team were at the peak of their powers 10 years ago, they were a clinical transition team able of dismantling opponents from any part of the pitch and at all times of the game.

Currently, their playing philosophy is unclear as Robertson, who has handed out numerous first caps during his two years in command, tries to initially build the basic foundations of a competitive squad.

It has previously announced that the backroom staff member in charge of attack, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the upcoming matches, making him the second member of the coaching staff to depart after previous staff member left last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not just his winning record, but his style, that was anticipated to translate from Crusaders when he assumed control after the global competition but, to date, both continue to be a continuous improvement.

Commercial Considerations

When investment group the company bought a stake in All Blacks in the past, the ensuing statement spoke of the "quest of worldwide growth" for the brand.

That task has perhaps been more difficult by the absence of a international celebrity. The current captain and the group of related players remain household names in the game, but the distribution of key individuals has never been spread wider. The captain is the single New Zealand player to receive global recognition in the past six seasons, in comparison to 10 in 13 years between the mid-2000s.

Global Expansion

Instead, initiatives have been made to transplant the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team achieved a historic win in the contest during past tours.

Since the easing of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have also