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

Games against the Irish team, the Scottish side, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, beyond the possibility to equal the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a measure to evaluate the development of the team under a leader now 24 months into from taking up the reins.

Present Difficulties

Questions over a lack of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over player choices and leavings from the management team have all fueled the perception that the most famous squad in the rugby is presently one in a time of change.

Most significantly, it is the dip in performances from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has caused some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the age of All Black exceptionalism.

Past Performance

Before their journey for the fall series, it was confirmed that during the following season, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will face South Africa in a warm-weather tour called 'a tour like no other'.

In the past the sport's top competitors, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what marketers have described 'The Premier Rivalry'.

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

The All Blacks have maintained to defeat Ireland when it matters most, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the global competition of recent years. They have, at the same time, lost just a pair of the last fixtures with England, have beaten the Welsh side in every encounter since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Shifting Balance

But the diminishment of their standing as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.

While the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the 2010s - securing 87% of their fixtures, as well as claiming the Webb Ellis on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the balance of power changed in the international rugby.

New Zealand overcame South Africa in their initial fixture of the competition in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in the final.

From that point, the New Zealand's winning percentage has fallen to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a rate (83%) to rival even the last great New Zealand team.

Recent Encounters

Over the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have secured victory in the majority of the seven meetings between the teams, comprising success in the recent championship match.

While securing their latest regional title, South Africa delivered a historic loss on the New Zealand team thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in Wellington, a result which has sparked another series of controversy concerning the direction of the team under their leader.

Perhaps most jarring for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their usual power, the Springboks' triumph has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their traditional rivals.

Team Identity

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the peak of their abilities in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine able of shredding competitors from every section of the field and at any moment of the game.

Today, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as the coach, who has awarded multiple new players during his two years in command, tries to first establish the more prosaic core elements of a successful side.

It has previously announced that the supporting manager in charge of offense, the current coach, will leave his role after the fall series, making him the next individual of management team to exit after another coach left last year after just five Tests.

Team Development

It was not only previous achievements, but his style, that was anticipated to transfer from previous club when he assumed control after the recent tournament but, so far, each are still a work in progress.

Commercial Considerations

Following investment group investors invested capital in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the ensuing statement discussed the "quest of worldwide growth" for the organization.

That goal has maybe been more difficult by the lack of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the trio of family members remain well-known figures in the sport, but the distribution of stars has never been spread wider. The captain is the single All Black to receive global recognition in the past six seasons, in opposition to 10 in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

Worldwide Reach

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

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but Chicago, a revisit to the location where the Irish team obtained a landmark success in the fixture in previous seasons.

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