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Pursuing what would be just a fifth tour victory in their storied history, the New Zealand side have headed north at an interesting juncture.

Games against Ireland, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, quite aside from the possibility to match the teams of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a benchmark to assess the progress of the side under a leader now two years on from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a lack of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over selection and departures from the backroom staff have all fueled the perception that the most recognisable team in the rugby is now one in a period of transition.

Most significantly, it is the drop in outcomes from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has prompted some to suggest that we have moved out of the era of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Before their departure for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that next year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in a off-season matches termed 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally the rugby's premier teams, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what marketers have described 'The Ultimate Contest'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have won a couple of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be considered as the side of their era.

The All Blacks have maintained to defeat Ireland when it counts most, defeating their next challengers in the tournament knockout stages of the past two tournaments. They have, additionally, lost just a pair of the last fixtures with the English team, have overcome the Welsh side in every encounter since the sixties and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the loss of their standing as the game's gold standard will continue to rankle.

While the New Zealand team excelled through the 2010s - winning eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as winning the global trophy on two occasions - the World Cup of 2019 can now be seen as when the balance of power changed in the international rugby.

New Zealand defeated South Africa in their initial fixture of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.

From that point, the New Zealand's victory ratio has dropped to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, from the beginning of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to rival even the last great New Zealand team.

Direct Competition

Throughout the same period, the South African team have secured victory in the majority of the seven meetings between the opponents, including success in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their latest southern hemisphere crown, South Africa delivered a significant beating on the All Blacks through 36 unanswered second-half points in the capital, a result which has sparked another wave of discussion concerning the direction of the squad under the coach.

Maybe most troubling for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their traditional strength, the Springboks' achievement has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their opposition team.

Playing Philosophy

At the time that the All Blacks were at the height of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit capable of dismantling rivals from every section of the pitch and at any moment of the match.

Now, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has awarded numerous first caps during his recent tenure in control, tries to first establish the basic building blocks of a competitive squad.

It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member responsible for offense, the current coach, will depart his position after the fall series, making him the next individual of the coaching staff to exit after previous staff member departed last year after just five Tests.

Performance Gap

It was not only previous achievements, but his approach, that was expected to carry over from his former team when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, each continue to be a work in progress.

Business Factors

After financial organization the company bought a stake in All Blacks in recent years, the ensuing statement mentioned the "pursuit of international expansion" for the organization.

That task has possibly been harder by the lack of a crossover star. Ardie Savea and the collection of Barrett brothers are still household names in the game, but the concentration of stars has never been spread wider. Their leader is the single All Black to win global recognition in the past six seasons, in comparison to 10 in over a decade between previous generations.

International Growth

Instead, initiatives have been undertaken to establish the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the location where the Irish team obtained a first ever victory in the contest nine years ago.

After the reduction of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have furthermore