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

Matches against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the coming month but, in addition to the chance to match the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the matches will be used as a benchmark to measure the improvement of the side under a head coach now well established from taking up the reins.

Present Difficulties

Concerns over a shortage of an clear playing identity, enduring debates over selection and exits from the coaching ticket have all fueled the perception that the best-known side in the rugby is presently one in a period of transition.

Most significantly, it is the dip in results from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has prompted some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the period of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Prior to their travel for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that in the coming year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play South Africa in a off-season matches dubbed 'a tour like no other'.

In the past the sport's top competitors, there is no question over who has currently outperformed of what organizers have described 'The Ultimate Contest'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have claimed a two of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the northern hemisphere selection to be viewed as the side of their period.

New Zealand have continued to defeat the Irish team when it matters most, overcoming Saturday's opponents in the tournament knockout stages of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, been defeated in just two of the last fixtures with England, have defeated Wales in every encounter since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Changing Dynamics

But the loss of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.

Whereas the All Blacks dominated through the previous decade - achieving eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the global tournament of 2019 can now be seen as when the hierarchical structure shifted in the global game.

New Zealand defeated South Africa in their opening match of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in the final.

After that event, the New Zealand's victory ratio has dropped to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves lost ten of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a frequency (eighty-three percent) to match even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

During the same period, the South African team have secured victory in five of the recent encounters between the sides, featuring triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their latest regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks courtesy of dominant performance in their home ground, a score which has triggered another series of debate concerning the progress of the side under the coach.

Maybe most troubling for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their traditional strength, the Springboks' achievement has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their opposition team.

Team Identity

When the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their powers a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of destroying rivals from any part of the field and at any moment of the contest.

Today, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has handed out 19 debuts during his two years in control, tries to first establish the fundamental building blocks of a winning team.

It has recently revealed that the assistant coach responsible for offense, their offensive coordinator, will leave his role after the upcoming matches, becoming the next individual of Robertson's ticket to leave after another coach departed last year after just a handful of games.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not just Robertson's success, but his approach, that was predicted to carry over from previous club when he took over after the recent tournament but, to date, each are still a work in progress.

Commercial Considerations

After investment group the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the following communication mentioned the "quest of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That task has maybe been more challenging by the lack of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the group of related players are still recognizable personalities in the sport, but the spread of stars has expanded significantly. Their leader is the single All Black to win World Player of the Year in the recent years, in contrast to ten awards in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Rather, efforts have been implemented to introduce the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a revisit to the stadium where the Irish team obtained a landmark success in the match during past tours.

After the easing of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have furthermore