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Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Fixtures against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, beyond the opportunity to match the sides of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the fixtures will be used as a measure to assess the development of the side under a leader now well established from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a shortage of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over team picks and departures from the management team have all fueled the feeling that the best-known side in the rugby is now one in a time of change.

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

Past Performance

Before their departure for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that next year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will play South Africa in a off-season matches termed 'a tour like no other'.

In the past the sport's top competitors, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what organizers have labeled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have won a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a series against the northern hemisphere selection to be viewed as the squad of their period.

New Zealand have continued to defeat Ireland when it counts most, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the tournament knockout stages of the past two tournaments. They have, additionally, lost just two of the past 21 meetings with England, have overcome Wales in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

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

While the All Blacks dominated through the 2010s - achieving eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as winning the World Cup on two occasions - the World Cup of 2019 can now be seen as when the hierarchical structure changed in the global game.

New Zealand defeated South Africa in their initial fixture of the competition in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.

After that event, the All Blacks' victory ratio has fallen to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to match even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

Throughout the same period, the South African team have secured victory in five of the recent encounters between the opponents, comprising victory in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their most recent southern hemisphere crown, the Springboks delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team thanks to dominant performance in their home ground, a result which has triggered another series of debate about the direction of the squad under the coach.

Possibly most jarring for followers of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their usual power, South Africa's achievement has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their opposition team.

Team Identity

When the New Zealand team were at the height of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a clinical transition team able of shredding opponents from any part of the pitch and at all times of the match.

Currently, their playing philosophy is less defined as their leader, who has given 19 debuts during his recent tenure in control, tries to primarily create the basic building blocks of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member in charge of scoring, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the upcoming matches, making him the second member of the coaching staff to leave after Leon MacDonald left last year after just five Tests.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not only his winning record, but his style, that was anticipated to carry over from his former team when he assumed control after the global competition but, as yet, each continue to be a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

After financial organization the company acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in the past, the subsequent announcement spoke of the "pursuit of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That objective has maybe been more difficult by the lack of a global icon. The current captain and the group of Barrett brothers are still household names in the sport, but the distribution of key individuals has become more diverse. Their leader is the only New Zealand player to earn international honors in the current era, in comparison to 10 in multiple seasons between the mid-2000s.

Global Expansion

Alternatively, attempts have been implemented to transplant the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.

The initial stage of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the location where the Irish team achieved a landmark success in the fixture during past tours.

Since the reduction of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have also