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Aiming for what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Matches against the Irish team, the Scottish side, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the opportunity to join the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the games will be used as a yardstick to measure the development of the team under a head coach now well established from taking up the reins.

Team Issues

Questions over a lack of an identifiable style, enduring debates over team picks and departures from the management team have all added to the sense that the most recognisable team in the rugby is presently one in a period of transition.

Most importantly, it is the decline in performances from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the period of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Ahead of their departure for the European tour, it was announced that during the following season, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will meet the Springboks in a summer series termed 'a unique competition'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has lately dominated of what marketers have described 'The Ultimate Contest'.

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

The All Blacks have continued to beat the Irish team when it is crucial, beating their next challengers in the global competition of recent years. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a couple of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have beaten the Welsh side in all matches since the sixties and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the decline of their position as the game's gold standard will persist as an irritation.

Whereas the New Zealand team excelled through the last ten years - securing eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as winning the global trophy on several instances - the World Cup of 2019 can now be seen as when the competitive landscape shifted in the world sport.

The All Blacks defeated South Africa in their first game of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

Since then, the All Blacks' victory ratio has dropped to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their following games but, since the start of last year, have won at a rate (83%) to compete with even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

During the same period, the 'Boks have won the majority of the seven meetings between the sides, including success in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their most recent regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a significant beating on the All Blacks courtesy of overwhelming display in their home ground, a score which has triggered another round of discussion regarding the direction of the team under their leader.

Perhaps most concerning for followers of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' success has come with an creative approach more usually associated with their traditional rivals.

Playing Philosophy

At the time that the All Blacks were at the zenith of their abilities a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine able of destroying competitors from any part of the pitch and at any moment of the game.

Now, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has awarded numerous first caps during his 24 months in command, tries to primarily create the more prosaic core elements of a successful side.

It has previously announced that the backroom staff member responsible for scoring, Jason Holland, will depart his position after the autumn tour, making him the second member of the coaching staff to leave after another coach departed last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not merely Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was predicted to translate from previous club when he assumed control after the recent tournament but, as yet, each remain a work in progress.

Business Factors

After investment group investors bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the subsequent announcement mentioned the "pursuit of new global opportunities" for the team.

That goal has perhaps been harder by the absence of a crossover star. The current captain and the trio of Barrett brothers continue to be household names in the rugby, but the spread of talented players has expanded significantly. The captain is the only All Black to receive international honors in the past six seasons, in opposition to ten awards in multiple seasons between 2005 and '07.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, attempts have been made to transplant the All Blacks into new territories.

The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the location where Ireland achieved a first ever victory in the fixture in previous seasons.

Since the easing of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have also