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Pursuing what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an crucial period.

Fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, beyond the opportunity to equal the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the matches will be used as a yardstick to assess the progress of the team under a manager now 24 months into from taking up the reins.

Team Issues

Concerns over a shortage of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over selection and exits from the coaching ticket have all added to the perception that the best-known side in the rugby is now one in a state of flux.

Most pertinently, it is the dip in results from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has prompted some to suggest that we have evolved beyond of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Ahead of their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was announced that next year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will meet the Springboks in a warm-weather tour dubbed 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the rugby's premier teams, there is clear agreement over who has recently got the better of what marketers have described 'The Premier Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have claimed a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be considered as the side of their period.

New Zealand have maintained to defeat the Irish team when it is crucial, overcoming their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of the past two tournaments. They have, meanwhile, lost just a pair of the last fixtures with the English team, have beaten the Welsh side in all matches since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

But the decline of their position as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.

Whereas the New Zealand team dominated through the last ten years - achieving 87% of their fixtures, as well as lifting the global trophy on multiple times - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the hierarchical structure shifted in the international rugby.

New Zealand overcame South Africa in their initial fixture of the championship in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the championship match.

From that point, the All Blacks' victory ratio has dropped to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of 2023, have achieved victory at a rate (eighty-three percent) to match 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 opponents, comprising victory in the 2023 World Cup final.

While securing their current southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team through dominant performance in Wellington, a outcome which has triggered another round of controversy about the progress of the team under the coach.

Perhaps most concerning for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their traditional strength, South Africa's triumph has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their own side.

Team Identity

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the peak of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of destroying competitors from any part of the pitch and at all times of the contest.

Currently, their offensive approach is less defined as their leader, who has handed out 19 debuts during his two years in command, tries to initially build the more prosaic core elements of a competitive squad.

It has previously announced that the supporting manager in charge of offense, Jason Holland, will depart his position after the fall series, making him the additional person of management team to exit after previous staff member walked away last year after just a handful of games.

Team Development

It was not merely Robertson's success, but his style, that was expected to translate from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the global competition but, as yet, the two aspects remain a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

Following investment group Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in the past, the subsequent announcement discussed the "search of new global opportunities" for the team.

That objective has possibly been harder by the absence of a global icon. Their key player and the group of related players are still well-known figures in the game, but the spread of stars has never been spread wider. Their leader is the single All Black to win international honors in the current era, in contrast to ten awards in 13 years between previous generations.

International Growth

Instead, attempts have been undertaken to transplant the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to Dublin but Chicago, a comeback to the stadium where Ireland secured a landmark success in the contest in previous seasons.

Since the easing of health protocols, the New Zealand team have also