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Aiming for 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.

Games against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, beyond the opportunity to join the sides of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the fixtures will be used as a measure to assess the progress of the squad under a leader now well established from taking up the reins.

Team Issues

Concerns over a lack of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over team picks and departures from the management team have all fueled the perception that the most famous squad in the sport is presently one in a period of transition.

Most significantly, it is the drop in performances from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has prompted some to suggest that we have evolved beyond of the period of New Zealand dominance.

Recent History

Prior to their departure for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that next year, in the non-existence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will face South Africa in a summer series dubbed 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the rugby's premier teams, there is clear agreement over who has currently outperformed of what marketers have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have won a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the team of their generation.

The All Blacks have persisted to beat Ireland when it matters most, defeating Saturday's opponents in the tournament knockout stages of 2019 and '23. They have, meanwhile, lost just a couple of the last fixtures with England, have overcome the Welsh side in all matches since the sixties and have always been victorious by Scotland.

Changing Dynamics

But the diminishment of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will remain frustrating.

While the All Blacks dominated through the 2010s - winning eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as winning the global trophy on multiple times - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the hierarchical structure changed in the international rugby.

The All Blacks overcame the Springboks in their initial fixture of the championship in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in the final.

After that event, the All Blacks' winning percentage has declined to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their following games but, from the beginning of 2023, have won at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to match even the previous All Blacks side.

Recent Encounters

Throughout the comparable duration, the 'Boks have secured victory in the majority of the seven meetings between the sides, featuring success in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their latest southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a historic loss on the New Zealand team through dominant performance in their home ground, a score which has ignited another series of debate about the progress of the squad under Robertson.

Perhaps most troubling for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' success has come with an offensive flair more typically linked with their own side.

Team Identity

When the All Blacks were at the peak of their powers in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of dismantling competitors from every section of the pitch and at any point of the game.

Today, their playing philosophy is unclear as their leader, who has handed out numerous first caps during his two years in command, tries to first establish the basic core elements of a successful side.

It has previously announced that the supporting manager overseeing scoring, the current coach, will leave his role after the fall series, making him the additional person of Robertson's ticket to depart after previous staff member left last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not only previous achievements, but his approach, that was anticipated to translate from his former team when he began his tenure after the global competition but, so far, each are still a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

After investment group Silver Lake bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the ensuing statement discussed the "search of worldwide growth" for the organization.

That task has maybe been more challenging by the shortage of a international celebrity. The current captain and the collection of family members remain household names in the rugby, but the distribution of key individuals has become more diverse. The captain is the single New Zealand player to win global recognition in the recent years, in comparison to ten awards in 13 years between the mid-2000s.

International Growth

Rather, efforts have been implemented to introduce the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a revisit to the stadium where the Irish team achieved a first ever victory in the match nine years ago.

After the reduction of health protocols, the New Zealand team have also