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

Matches against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the possibility to join the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the matches will be used as a yardstick to measure the improvement of the team under a leader now 24 months into from assuming control.

Team Issues

Questions over a absence of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over selection and departures from the coaching ticket have all added to the feeling that the best-known side in the sport is now one in a period of transition.

Most significantly, it is the drop in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has prompted some to suggest that we have moved out of the era of Kiwi superiority.

Recent History

Before their travel for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that during the following season, in the non-existence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will face South Africa in a summer series termed 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what promoters have called 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have claimed a pair of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the home nations team to be viewed as the side of their era.

The All Blacks have continued to defeat the Irish team when it counts most, defeating their next challengers in the tournament knockout stages of the past two tournaments. They have, meanwhile, lost just two of the recent encounters with England, have defeated the Welsh side in each game since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

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

While the All Blacks dominated through the 2010s - securing eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as winning the global trophy on several instances - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the hierarchical structure changed in the global game.

The All Blacks overcame South Africa in their initial fixture of the competition in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in the final.

After that event, the New Zealand's success rate has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of 2023, have achieved victory at a rate (eighty-three percent) to rival even the last great New Zealand team.

Recent Encounters

Over the comparable duration, the Springboks have secured victory in the majority of the recent encounters between the teams, comprising triumph in the recent championship match.

During their pursuit of their most recent southern hemisphere crown, South Africa administered a significant beating on the All Blacks thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in the capital, a score which has ignited another round of discussion about the direction of the team under Robertson.

Perhaps most troubling for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their traditional strength, South Africa's achievement has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their own side.

Style Evolution

When the All Blacks were at the zenith of their powers in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine able of destroying rivals from any part of the pitch and at any moment of the contest.

Today, their playing philosophy is less defined as Robertson, who has handed out numerous first caps during his 24 months in command, tries to initially build the fundamental core elements of a competitive squad.

It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member in charge of offense, Jason Holland, will depart his position after the autumn tour, making him the next individual of Robertson's ticket to leave after previous staff member departed last year after just five Tests.

Performance Gap

It was not just Robertson's success, but his style, that was anticipated to transfer from previous club when he assumed control after the recent tournament but, so far, the two aspects remain a continuous improvement.

Organizational Strategy

When private equity firm Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in the past, the following communication discussed the "search of international expansion" for the organization.

That goal has possibly been harder by the shortage of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the group of Barrett brothers remain well-known figures in the rugby, but the spread of stars has expanded significantly. The captain is the sole All Black to earn World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in opposition to ten awards in 13 years between the mid-2000s.

Worldwide Reach

Instead, attempts have been made to establish the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.

The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a return to the location where Ireland achieved a historic win in the contest nine years ago.

Following the reduction of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have furthermore