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Pursuing 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 Ireland, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, in addition to the chance to match the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the fixtures will be used as a yardstick to assess the development of the team under a manager now two years on from taking up the reins.

Team Issues

Concerns over a absence of an identifiable style, continuing controversies over player choices and leavings from the coaching ticket have all fueled the feeling that the most recognisable team in the sport is presently one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the dip in performances from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has caused some to suggest that we have moved out of the period of Kiwi superiority.

Recent History

Before their departure for the European tour, it was confirmed that next year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will face South Africa in a warm-weather tour termed 'a tour like no other'.

Historically the rugby's premier teams, there is clear agreement over who has recently got the better of what marketers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.

During the last decade, the South African team have secured a pair of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the home nations team to be considered as the squad of their period.

New Zealand have continued to overcome the Irish team when it is crucial, overcoming their next challengers in the global competition of recent years. They have, at the same time, lost just a couple of the past 21 meetings with England, have overcome the Welsh side in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.

Shifting Balance

But the decline of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.

Whereas the All Blacks reigned supreme through the 2010s - securing eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as claiming the Webb Ellis on several instances - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power moved in the international rugby.

New Zealand beat the Springboks in their first game of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were eventually successful in the final.

Since then, the All Blacks' success rate has fallen to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of 2023, have won at a frequency (eighty-three percent) to compete with even the last great New Zealand team.

Direct Competition

During the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have won five of the past fixtures between the opponents, featuring triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their most recent southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks through overwhelming display in Wellington, a outcome which has ignited another round of controversy concerning the development of the squad under the coach.

Maybe most concerning for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their usual power, the Springboks' success has come with an attacking verve more typically linked with their traditional rivals.

Team Identity

When the New Zealand team were at the peak of their powers 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit equipped of destroying rivals from any part of the playing surface and at all times of the game.

Currently, their attacking style is more ambiguous as the coach, who has given multiple new players during his recent tenure in charge, tries to primarily create the more prosaic core elements of a winning team.

It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member responsible for attack, Jason Holland, will depart his position after the autumn tour, making him the additional person of Robertson's ticket to leave after previous staff member walked away last year after just limited matches.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not just previous achievements, but his style, that was anticipated to transfer from previous club when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, as yet, the two aspects continue to be a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

Following investment group the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in the past, the ensuing statement discussed the "search of international expansion" for the organization.

That goal has perhaps been harder by the lack of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the trio of related players remain well-known figures in the game, but the distribution of talented players has expanded significantly. The captain is the sole New Zealand player to earn international honors in the past six seasons, in opposition to 10 in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Rather, efforts have been undertaken to transplant the New Zealand team into new territories.

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team secured a first ever victory in the match during past tours.

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