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Seeking what would be just a fifth tour victory in their storied history, the All Blacks have headed north at an interesting juncture.

Matches against the Irish team, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, beyond the opportunity to join the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the games will be used as a yardstick to measure the improvement of the side under a leader now 24 months into from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Doubts over a lack of an identifiable style, continuing controversies over player choices and exits from the management team have all added to the perception that the best-known side in the rugby is presently one in a state of flux.

Most importantly, it is the drop in outcomes from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has prompted some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Recent History

Prior to their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that in the coming year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play South Africa in a summer series termed 'a unique competition'.

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 Springboks have won a two of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the home nations team to be viewed as the side of their era.

The All Blacks have maintained to overcome the Irish team when it counts most, overcoming Saturday's opponents in the tournament knockout stages of the past two tournaments. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just a couple of the last fixtures with the English team, have defeated Wales in all matches since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

But the diminishment of their standing as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

Whereas the New Zealand team dominated through the last ten years - winning 87% of their fixtures, as well as lifting the World Cup on two occasions - the global tournament of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power shifted in the world sport.

The All Blacks beat South Africa in their initial fixture of the competition 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 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of 2023, have won at a frequency (eighty-three percent) to compete with even the last great New Zealand team.

Recent Encounters

During the comparable duration, the 'Boks have secured victory in the majority of the recent encounters between the opponents, featuring triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

While securing their most recent continental championship, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks courtesy of dominant performance in Wellington, a score which has sparked another series of debate concerning the development of the squad under their leader.

Perhaps most jarring for followers of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their usual power, the Springboks' achievement has come with an creative approach more commonly connected with their own side.

Team Identity

At the time that the All Blacks were at the height of their capabilities in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine able of shredding opponents from every section of the playing surface and at any moment of the contest.

Currently, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as their leader, who has awarded 19 debuts during his 24 months in control, tries to initially build the fundamental foundations of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager overseeing attack, the current coach, will depart his position after the upcoming matches, becoming the second member of management team to depart after another coach departed last year after just a handful of games.

Team Development

It was not merely Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was predicted to translate from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the global competition but, as yet, both are still a continuous improvement.

Commercial Considerations

When private equity firm the company invested capital in All Blacks in 2022, the ensuing statement mentioned the "search of worldwide growth" for the brand.

That task has perhaps been more difficult by the lack of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the group of Barrett brothers are still household names in the sport, but the concentration of stars has never been spread wider. The captain is the sole New Zealand player to receive international honors in the current era, in comparison to 10 in multiple seasons between the mid-2000s.

Worldwide Reach

Instead, efforts have been undertaken to transplant the New Zealand team into new territories.

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to Dublin but the American city, a revisit to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team secured a landmark success in the match in previous seasons.

After the easing of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have furthermore