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Pursuing what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an interesting juncture.

Fixtures against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and Wales await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the opportunity to match the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the games will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the improvement of the team under a manager now two years on from assuming control.

Team Issues

Questions over a absence of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over selection and leavings from the management team have all contributed to the perception that the most recognisable team in the game is presently one in a time of change.

Most pertinently, it is the drop in outcomes from a past excellence set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the age of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Prior to their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that in the coming year, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will face South Africa in a summer series termed 'a unique competition'.

Traditionally the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has currently outperformed of what organizers have described 'The Premier Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have secured a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the home nations team to be considered as the team of their period.

New Zealand have persisted to beat the Irish team when it counts most, beating Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a pair of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have overcome Wales in each game since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Shifting Balance

But the loss of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

Whereas the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the last ten years - securing 87% of their international games, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on two occasions - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be seen as when the competitive landscape shifted in the international rugby.

The All Blacks defeated South Africa in their opening match of the competition in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the final.

Since then, the All Blacks' success rate has declined to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of 2023, have won at a frequency (83%) to compete with even the previous All Blacks side.

Recent Encounters

Throughout the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have won the majority of the recent encounters between the opponents, comprising victory in the recent championship match.

While securing their latest southern hemisphere crown, South Africa delivered a historic loss on the New Zealand team thanks to dominant performance in Wellington, a result which has triggered another series of debate about the direction of the team under the coach.

Maybe most concerning for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' triumph has come with an creative approach more commonly connected with their traditional rivals.

Style Evolution

When the New Zealand team were at the peak of their powers 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of dismantling competitors from every section of the pitch and at all times of the match.

Today, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as the coach, who has handed out 19 debuts during his recent tenure in control, tries to first establish the basic foundations of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach overseeing attack, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the autumn tour, making him the second member of management team to exit after Leon MacDonald walked away last year after just limited matches.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not just Robertson's success, but his style, that was anticipated to translate from previous club when he assumed control after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, each continue to be a continuous improvement.

Business Factors

Following private equity firm investors invested capital in New Zealand rugby in the past, the subsequent announcement discussed the "pursuit of new global opportunities" for the organization.

That task has possibly been harder by the absence of a global icon. Their key player and the collection of family members remain well-known figures in the sport, but the concentration of talented players has expanded significantly. Their leader is the sole All Black to earn international honors in the past six seasons, in comparison to 10 in multiple seasons between the mid-2000s.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, attempts have been undertaken to introduce the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland secured a historic win in the fixture in previous seasons.

Following the easing of health protocols, the All Blacks have furthermore