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Aiming for what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their legendary past, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an interesting juncture.

Fixtures against Ireland, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, beyond the opportunity to equal the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the games will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the progress of the team under a head coach now well established from beginning his tenure.

Team Issues

Concerns over a shortage of an identifiable style, continuing controversies over selection and departures from the backroom staff have all fueled the perception that the best-known side in the game is presently one in a time of change.

Most significantly, it is the dip in performances from a past excellence set between the World Cups of the last decade that has caused some to speculate that we have transitioned away of the age of All Black exceptionalism.

Recent History

Before their departure for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that next year, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play the Springboks in a summer series termed 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is little doubt over who has lately dominated of what marketers have described 'The Premier Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have secured a pair of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the northern hemisphere selection to be considered as the side of their generation.

The All Blacks have continued to defeat the Irish team when it matters most, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the tournament knockout stages of 2019 and '23. They have, meanwhile, lost just a couple of the past 21 meetings with England, have beaten Wales in each game since over sixty years ago and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the loss of their standing as the game's gold standard will remain frustrating.

While the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the 2010s - achieving eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as claiming the global trophy on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape changed in the international rugby.

The All Blacks overcame the Springboks in their initial fixture of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in the championship match.

After that event, the New Zealand's victory ratio has dropped to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their following games but, since the start of last year, have achieved victory at a rate (83%) to match even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

Over the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have won five of the past fixtures between the opponents, featuring triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their current southern hemisphere crown, South Africa delivered a historic loss on the All Blacks courtesy of overwhelming display in Wellington, a result which has sparked another series of debate concerning the direction of the side under Robertson.

Perhaps most concerning for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their traditional strength, South Africa's triumph has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their traditional rivals.

Playing Philosophy

During the period when the All Blacks were at the zenith of their powers a decade past, they were a clinical transition team capable of dismantling rivals from any part of the playing surface and at any point of the game.

Now, their playing philosophy is unclear as the coach, who has handed out multiple new players during his two years in command, tries to first establish the fundamental core elements of a successful side.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager responsible for offense, the current coach, will depart his position after the upcoming matches, becoming the next individual of the coaching staff to exit after previous staff member left last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not merely Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was predicted to translate from Crusaders when he took over after the global competition but, as yet, both continue to be a work in progress.

Organizational Strategy

Following private equity firm the company acquired shares in All Blacks in 2022, the subsequent announcement discussed the "search of new global opportunities" for the team.

That objective has possibly been more challenging by the absence of a international celebrity. Their key player and the collection of related players remain well-known figures in the sport, but the spread of key individuals has become more diverse. Savea is the only New Zealand player to earn international honors in the recent years, in contrast to 10 in 13 years between previous generations.

Global Expansion

Alternatively, efforts have been undertaken to transplant the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The first leg of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team secured a landmark success in the match nine years ago.

After the reduction of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have furthermore