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Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Matches against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, quite aside from the possibility to match the teams of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the fixtures will be used as a measure to assess the improvement of the side under a manager now two years on from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Questions over a absence of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over selection and departures from the backroom staff have all contributed to the perception that the most famous squad in the sport is currently one in a period of transition.

Most importantly, 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 transitioned away of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Recent History

Ahead of their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that next year, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will meet South Africa in a summer series called 'a tour like no other'.

In the past the rugby's premier teams, there is clear agreement over who has recently got the better of what marketers have labeled 'The Premier Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have claimed a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the northern hemisphere selection to be regarded as the team of their generation.

New Zealand have continued to overcome the Irish team when it counts most, defeating this weekend's rivals in the tournament knockout stages of the past two tournaments. They have, additionally, lost just a pair of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have defeated Wales in each game since the sixties and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

But the loss of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

Although the All Blacks reigned supreme through the previous decade - winning eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the hierarchical structure changed in the international rugby.

The All Blacks defeated the Springboks in their first game of the tournament in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the championship match.

After that event, the New Zealand's victory ratio has dropped to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of last year, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to match even the former Kiwi champions.

Recent Encounters

Over the same period, the Springboks have secured victory in the majority of the seven meetings between the opponents, including success in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their most recent regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a historic loss on the All Blacks through overwhelming display in Wellington, a result which has ignited another round of controversy regarding the development of the squad under the coach.

Maybe most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, South Africa's success has come with an creative approach 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 able of destroying rivals from all areas of the field and at any point of the game.

Currently, their offensive approach is unclear as the coach, who has given multiple new players during his two years in command, tries to first establish the fundamental foundations of a competitive squad.

It has previously announced that the backroom staff member overseeing scoring, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the autumn tour, making him the second member of management team to leave after Leon MacDonald walked away last year after just limited matches.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not merely Robertson's success, but his approach, that was expected to translate from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, so far, the two aspects are still a continuous improvement.

Business Factors

When investment group the company invested capital in All Blacks in recent years, the ensuing statement discussed the "pursuit of worldwide growth" for the team.

That goal has perhaps been more challenging by the lack of a crossover star. The current captain and the trio of related players continue to be well-known figures in the sport, but the spread of talented players has never been spread wider. Their leader is the sole New Zealand player to win global recognition in the recent years, in comparison to 10 in over a decade between the mid-2000s.

Worldwide Reach

Rather, initiatives have been implemented to introduce the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.

The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to Dublin but Chicago, a return to the location where the Irish team secured a historic win in the match in previous seasons.

Since the relaxation of health protocols, the All Blacks have additionally