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Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their illustrious legacy, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Matches against Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, beyond the chance to match the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to measure the progress of the team under a head coach now well established from beginning his tenure.

Team Issues

Doubts over a absence of an clear playing identity, enduring debates over selection and exits from the management team have all added to the perception that the most recognisable team in the game is now one in a time of change.

Most pertinently, it is the drop in performances from a past excellence set between the World Cups of the last decade that has led some to theorize that we have moved out of the era of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Before their travel for the European tour, it was confirmed that during the following season, in the non-existence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will face South Africa in a summer series dubbed 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally the game's two strongest sides, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what organizers have labeled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have secured a two of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the northern hemisphere selection to be considered as the squad of their era.

New Zealand have persisted to defeat the Irish team when it is crucial, overcoming Saturday's opponents in the tournament knockout stages of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, been defeated in just two of the recent encounters with the English team, have beaten the Welsh side in every encounter since 1963 and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the loss of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will remain frustrating.

Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the 2010s - winning 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the World Cup on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be viewed as when the hierarchical structure changed in the global game.

The All Blacks beat South Africa in their first game of the competition in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in the championship match.

After that event, the All Blacks' success rate has fallen to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their following games but, since the start of last year, have won at a rate (eighty-three percent) to match even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

Throughout the comparable duration, the Springboks have won five of the recent encounters between the sides, including triumph in the latest global tournament decider.

In claiming their latest continental championship, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks courtesy of overwhelming display in the capital, a outcome which has ignited another round of discussion about the direction of the side under the coach.

Possibly most jarring for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their traditional strength, the Springboks' triumph has come with an attacking verve more typically linked with their opposition team.

Style Evolution

When the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their abilities a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of shredding opponents from every section of the field and at all times of the contest.

Today, their offensive approach is unclear as the coach, who has given 19 debuts during his 24 months in control, tries to initially build the basic building blocks of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager in charge of scoring, the current coach, will depart his position after the fall series, becoming the next individual of Robertson's ticket to depart after another coach walked away last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not just previous achievements, but his style, that was expected to carry over from his former team when he assumed control after the global competition but, as yet, both remain a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

After private equity firm the company acquired shares in All Blacks in 2022, the following communication discussed the "quest of worldwide growth" for the team.

That objective has maybe been more difficult by the lack of a crossover star. The current captain and the collection of Barrett brothers continue to be recognizable personalities in the sport, but the spread of stars has expanded significantly. The captain is the sole All Black to win international honors in the current era, in comparison to ten awards in over a decade between the mid-2000s.

International Growth

Rather, attempts have been made to establish the All Blacks into new territories.

The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland secured a historic win in the fixture in previous seasons.

Following the relaxation of health protocols, the All Blacks have additionally