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Aiming for what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an crucial period.

Matches against Ireland, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the upcoming weeks but, quite aside from the chance to equal the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the matches will be used as a measure to evaluate the progress of the side under a manager now 24 months into from beginning his tenure.

Current Challenges

Doubts over a lack of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over player choices and departures from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the feeling that the best-known side in the sport is presently one in a time of change.

Most significantly, it is the dip in results from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has prompted some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Ahead of their journey for the fall series, it was announced that next year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in a off-season matches dubbed 'a unique competition'.

In the past the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has currently outperformed of what marketers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have secured a pair of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the home nations team to be considered as the squad of their generation.

The All Blacks have maintained to defeat Ireland when it counts most, overcoming Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of 2019 and '23. They have, meanwhile, lost just a couple of the recent encounters with England, have defeated the Welsh side in every encounter since 1963 and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the decline of their standing as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.

Although the All Blacks excelled through the previous decade - securing 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the hierarchical structure moved in the global game.

The All Blacks defeated the Springboks in their initial fixture of the competition in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in the championship match.

Since then, the All Blacks' winning percentage has dropped to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of last year, have achieved victory at a rate (83%) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

Over the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have secured victory in the majority of the seven meetings between the sides, including victory in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their latest regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a significant beating on the New Zealand team thanks to dominant performance in their home ground, a result which has sparked another round of debate about the development of the team under their leader.

Possibly most jarring for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their traditional strength, South Africa's success has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their opposition team.

Playing Philosophy

When the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit equipped of dismantling competitors from all areas of the playing surface and at any moment of the match.

Currently, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has awarded numerous first caps during his two years in control, tries to primarily create the more prosaic building blocks of a successful side.

It has recently revealed that the assistant coach in charge of attack, Jason Holland, will depart his position after the fall series, becoming the second member of management team to exit after another coach departed last year after just a handful of games.

Team Development

It was not merely Robertson's success, but his approach, that was anticipated to transfer from previous club when he assumed control after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, the two aspects remain a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

When investment group investors invested capital in New Zealand rugby in the past, the following communication spoke of the "search of new global opportunities" for the team.

That objective has perhaps been more challenging by the absence of a international celebrity. Their key player and the trio of Barrett brothers are still household names in the rugby, but the concentration of stars has never been spread wider. Savea is the sole All Black to win global recognition in the recent years, in comparison to ten awards in over a decade between previous generations.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, efforts have been made to establish the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.

The first leg of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to Dublin but Chicago, a return to the location where the Irish team obtained a landmark success in the match during past tours.

After the relaxation of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have also