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Aiming for what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their illustrious legacy, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Fixtures against Ireland, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the chance to equal the teams of previous successful tours in the record books, the matches will be used as a measure to evaluate the improvement of the side under a head coach now two years on from taking up the reins.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a absence of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over selection and departures from the coaching ticket have all fueled the feeling that the most recognisable team in the sport is presently one in a time of change.

Most pertinently, it is the drop in outcomes from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has led some to suggest that we have evolved beyond of the age of Kiwi superiority.

Past Performance

Before their departure for the European tour, it was announced that next year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will meet the Springboks in a summer series called 'an unprecedented series'.

In the past the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has lately dominated of what marketers have labeled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have won a pair of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the home nations team to be viewed as the squad of their generation.

New Zealand have maintained to beat the Irish team when it matters most, overcoming Saturday's opponents in the tournament knockout stages of recent years. They have, additionally, been defeated in just two of the recent encounters with England, have beaten the Welsh side in each game since 1963 and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

But the diminishment of their standing as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the last ten years - winning 87% of their Test matches, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on two occasions - the global tournament of 2019 can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape changed in the world sport.

The All Blacks beat South Africa in their opening match of the championship in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.

After that event, the New Zealand's victory ratio has declined to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their following games but, since the start of 2023, have won at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

Throughout the same period, the Springboks have won five of the past fixtures between the sides, featuring triumph in the recent championship match.

In claiming their most recent regional title, South Africa delivered a historic loss on the All Blacks thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in Wellington, a result which has sparked another series of controversy about the direction of the team under their leader.

Maybe most concerning for followers of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' success has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their traditional rivals.

Playing Philosophy

At the time that the All Blacks were at the peak of their abilities a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of dismantling rivals from all areas of the playing surface and at any point of the game.

Currently, their playing philosophy is less defined as the coach, who has given multiple new players during his two years in control, tries to primarily create the basic foundations of a winning team.

It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach overseeing attack, their offensive coordinator, will depart his position after the autumn tour, becoming the next individual of the coaching staff to leave after another coach departed last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not only Robertson's success, but his style, that was predicted to translate from his former team when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, the two aspects continue to be a continuous improvement.

Organizational Strategy

When investment group investors acquired shares in All Blacks in the past, the ensuing statement mentioned the "search of new global opportunities" for the organization.

That task has perhaps been more difficult by the shortage of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers remain household names in the sport, but the spread of stars has never been spread wider. Savea is the sole New Zealand player to receive World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in opposition to 10 in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

Global Expansion

Alternatively, attempts have been made to transplant the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a return to the location where Ireland obtained a historic win in the contest nine years ago.

Since the reduction of health protocols, the All Blacks have additionally