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Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an crucial period.

Fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, in addition to the possibility to match the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the matches will be used as a yardstick to evaluate the development of the squad under a manager now two years on from beginning his tenure.

Team Issues

Doubts over a absence of an distinctive approach, ongoing discussions over player choices and exits from the backroom staff have all fueled the feeling that the most recognisable team in the game is now one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the decline in performances from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has led some to speculate that we have evolved beyond of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Before their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that in the coming year, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in a off-season matches termed 'a tour like no other'.

In the past the game's two strongest sides, there is clear agreement over who has currently outperformed of what promoters have called 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have secured a couple of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the northern hemisphere selection to be considered as the side of their generation.

The All Blacks have maintained to defeat Ireland when it matters most, overcoming their next challengers in the tournament knockout stages of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, lost just a pair of the past 21 meetings with England, have defeated the Welsh side in each game since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Shifting Balance

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

Although the New Zealand team dominated through the previous decade - winning eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as claiming the global trophy on two occasions - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the competitive landscape shifted in the global game.

The All Blacks defeated South Africa in their initial fixture of the competition in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

Since then, the New Zealand's winning percentage has declined to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of 2023, have achieved victory at a frequency (eighty-three percent) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.

Recent Encounters

During the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have secured victory in the majority of the seven meetings between the opponents, featuring success in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their latest continental championship, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a significant beating on the All Blacks courtesy of dominant performance in Wellington, a score which has ignited another round of debate about the direction of the team under their leader.

Maybe most jarring for followers of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their traditional strength, South Africa's success has come with an attacking verve more typically linked with their traditional rivals.

Team Identity

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the height of their powers 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of destroying competitors from any part of the field and at any point of the game.

Currently, their offensive approach is unclear as Robertson, who has given 19 debuts during his 24 months in charge, tries to first establish the fundamental building blocks of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach responsible for offense, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the upcoming matches, becoming the additional person of Robertson's ticket to leave after previous staff member walked away last year after just five Tests.

Team Development

It was not only his winning record, but his style, that was expected to transfer from his former team when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, each continue to be a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

When investment group the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the following communication mentioned the "quest of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That goal has possibly been harder by the shortage of a global icon. The current captain and the trio of Barrett brothers remain household names in the sport, but the distribution of key individuals has become more diverse. Their leader is the only New Zealand player to receive international honors in the past six seasons, in opposition to ten awards in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Alternatively, efforts have been implemented to introduce the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.

The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the location where Ireland secured a historic win in the match in previous seasons.

Following the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the New Zealand team have furthermore