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Aiming for what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have headed north at an pivotal moment.

Matches against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, beyond the chance to join the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the games will be used as a yardstick to assess the progress of the side under a leader now 24 months into from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Doubts over a absence of an distinctive approach, ongoing discussions over team picks and exits from the coaching ticket have all fueled the feeling that the best-known side in the sport is presently one in a time of change.

Most significantly, it is the dip in outcomes from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has caused some to speculate that we have evolved beyond of the age of All Black exceptionalism.

Team Record

Prior to their travel for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that in the coming year, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will face South Africa in a warm-weather tour termed 'a unique competition'.

Traditionally the rugby's premier teams, there is clear agreement over who has currently outperformed of what promoters have labeled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have won a pair of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a series against the northern hemisphere selection to be considered as the team of their era.

The All Blacks have maintained to beat the Irish team when it is crucial, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, additionally, been defeated in just a pair of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have defeated the Welsh side in all matches since the sixties and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

But the decline of their status as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.

Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the previous decade - achieving 87% of their international games, as well as claiming the global trophy on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be seen as when the competitive landscape shifted in the world sport.

The All Blacks beat the Springboks in their opening match 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 lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, from the beginning of last year, have won at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to match even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

Over the comparable duration, the Springboks have won five of the recent encounters between the opponents, including victory in the latest global tournament decider.

In claiming their latest southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a significant beating on the All Blacks courtesy of dominant performance in their home ground, a outcome which has ignited another wave of discussion about the direction of the squad under Robertson.

Possibly most concerning for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their traditional strength, South Africa's triumph has come with an offensive flair more commonly connected with their opposition team.

Playing Philosophy

During the period when the All Blacks were at the zenith of their abilities in previous eras, they were a clinical transition team equipped of destroying opponents from any part of the playing surface and at all times of the match.

Currently, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as the coach, who has awarded multiple new players during his two years in command, tries to primarily create the basic foundations of a successful side.

It has previously announced that the backroom staff member in charge of attack, the current coach, will exit the team after the autumn tour, becoming the additional person of the coaching staff to leave after Leon MacDonald left last year after just five Tests.

Performance Gap

It was not just previous achievements, but his approach, that was predicted 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

After investment group the company acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the ensuing statement discussed the "pursuit of worldwide growth" for the brand.

That objective has maybe been more challenging by the lack of a crossover star. Their key player and the trio of related players continue to be household names in the rugby, but the concentration of talented players has become more diverse. Their leader is the sole New Zealand player to earn World Player of the Year in the recent years, in comparison to ten awards in over a decade between the mid-2000s.

Global Expansion

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

The first leg of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland secured a first ever victory in the fixture during past tours.

Since the easing of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have additionally