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Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their legendary past, the All Blacks have headed north at an pivotal moment.

Games against the Irish team, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the coming month but, beyond the possibility to match the squads of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a measure to evaluate the progress of the squad under a head coach now two years on from taking up the reins.

Team Issues

Concerns over a shortage of an distinctive approach, ongoing discussions over player choices and exits from the backroom staff have all contributed to the feeling that the most recognisable team in the rugby is presently one in a state of flux.

Most significantly, it is the drop in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has prompted some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the age of Kiwi superiority.

Past Performance

Before their departure for the European tour, it was announced that during the following season, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play the Springboks in a off-season matches called 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what organizers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.

During the last decade, the South African team have won a couple of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the British and Irish Lions to be viewed as the team of their period.

The All Blacks have maintained to overcome the Irish team when it is crucial, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the World Cup quarter finals of the past two tournaments. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just a couple of the last fixtures with England, have defeated the Welsh side in each game since over sixty years ago and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

But the diminishment of their position as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.

Although the All Blacks dominated through the last ten years - achieving 87% of their Test matches, as well as lifting the global trophy on two occasions - the global tournament of 2019 can now be regarded as when the competitive landscape shifted in the world sport.

The All Blacks beat South Africa in their opening match of the competition in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

From that point, the All Blacks' success rate has declined to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost ten of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Recent Encounters

Throughout the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have won the majority of the past fixtures between the teams, including triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

While securing their most recent southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a historic loss on the New Zealand team through overwhelming display in their home ground, a score which has triggered another series of controversy concerning the progress of the squad under the coach.

Possibly most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' triumph has come with an offensive flair more typically linked with their traditional rivals.

Playing Philosophy

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the height of their powers in previous eras, they were a clinical transition team capable of dismantling rivals from every section of the playing surface and at any moment of the contest.

Today, their attacking style is less defined as their leader, who has handed out multiple new players during his 24 months in charge, tries to first establish the basic core elements of a winning team.

It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member overseeing offense, their offensive coordinator, will leave his role after the autumn tour, making him the second member of Robertson's ticket to exit after previous staff member walked away last year after just limited matches.

Performance Gap

It was not just Robertson's success, but his approach, that was expected to transfer from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, so far, each continue to be a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

Following financial organization the company bought a stake in All Blacks in 2022, the subsequent announcement spoke of the "quest of worldwide growth" for the organization.

That task has perhaps been harder by the lack of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the trio of family members remain recognizable personalities in the rugby, but the concentration of key individuals has expanded significantly. Their leader is the sole New Zealand player to receive World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in contrast to 10 in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Rather, efforts have been undertaken to establish the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team achieved a historic win in the contest during past tours.

After the relaxation of health protocols, the All Blacks have furthermore