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Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Fixtures against the Irish team, the Scottish side, England and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the upcoming weeks but, quite aside from the chance to join the squads of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to assess the improvement of the squad under a head coach now well established from beginning his tenure.

Team Issues

Concerns over a shortage of an identifiable style, enduring debates over player choices and departures from the management team have all contributed to the feeling that the best-known side in the sport is presently one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the decline in performances from a previous peak set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to theorize that we have moved out of the era of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Prior to their departure for the fall series, it was revealed that next year, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will face South Africa in a warm-weather tour termed 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what promoters have described 'The Premier Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have secured a pair of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the home nations team to be considered as the side of their period.

New Zealand have continued to defeat Ireland when it matters most, overcoming their next challengers in the global competition of recent years. They have, meanwhile, lost just a pair of the past 21 meetings with England, have beaten Wales in all matches since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

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

While the All Blacks excelled through the previous decade - winning 87% of their fixtures, as well as lifting the global trophy on two occasions - the global tournament of 2019 can now be seen as when the balance of power shifted in the global game.

New Zealand beat South Africa in their opening match of the competition in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

Since then, the New Zealand's winning percentage has fallen to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost ten of their following games but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a rate (eighty-three percent) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Head-to-Head

Throughout the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the past fixtures between the opponents, featuring triumph in the latest global tournament decider.

While securing their current regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a significant beating on the All Blacks through 36 unanswered second-half points in Wellington, a outcome which has ignited another round of controversy about the direction of the team under the coach.

Perhaps most troubling for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their usual power, the Springboks' success has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their traditional rivals.

Team Identity

When the All Blacks were at the zenith of their capabilities a decade past, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of shredding opponents from every section of the field and at any moment of the match.

Now, their offensive approach is less defined as Robertson, who has handed out multiple new players during his 24 months in control, tries to primarily create the basic foundations of a competitive squad.

It has previously announced that the backroom staff member in charge of attack, their offensive coordinator, will leave his role after the fall series, becoming the second member of management team to leave after another coach walked away last year after just a handful of games.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not only Robertson's success, but his style, that was expected to translate from previous club when he assumed control after the recent tournament but, so far, each are still a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

Following financial organization the company acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the ensuing statement discussed the "search of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That goal has maybe been harder by the absence of a global icon. Their key player and the collection of family members remain household names in the sport, but the spread of key individuals has never been spread wider. Their leader is the sole New Zealand player to receive international honors in the current era, in contrast to 10 in over a decade between previous generations.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, attempts have been undertaken to introduce the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The initial stage of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but the American city, a revisit to the location where Ireland achieved a first ever victory in the fixture in previous seasons.

Since the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have also