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Seeking 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.

Fixtures against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, in addition to the chance to join the squads of previous successful tours in the record books, the games will be used as a yardstick to evaluate the progress of the squad under a head coach now two years on from taking up the reins.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a lack of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over selection and departures from the backroom staff have all fueled the sense that the most famous squad in the rugby is now one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the drop in performances from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has prompted some to speculate that we have transitioned away of the period of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Before their journey for the fall series, it was revealed that during the following season, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in a warm-weather tour dubbed 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has currently outperformed of what marketers have labeled 'The Premier Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have claimed a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be regarded as the side of their era.

New Zealand have continued to defeat the Irish team when it counts most, overcoming their next challengers in the global competition of 2019 and '23. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just two of the last fixtures with England, have overcome Wales in every encounter since 1963 and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

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

Although the All Blacks excelled through the 2010s - securing 87% of their fixtures, as well as claiming the global trophy on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be viewed as when the hierarchical structure changed in the international rugby.

New Zealand overcame the Springboks in their initial fixture of the competition in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.

From that point, the New Zealand's winning percentage has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of last year, have achieved victory at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to match even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

Over the comparable duration, the 'Boks have won five of the recent encounters between the teams, featuring triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their latest southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a historic loss on the All Blacks through dominant performance in Wellington, a outcome which has triggered another wave of discussion regarding the direction of the side under their leader.

Maybe most jarring for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, South Africa's success has come with an offensive flair more typically linked with their opposition team.

Team Identity

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the peak of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of dismantling competitors from any part of the pitch and at any point of the game.

Today, their playing philosophy is less defined as the coach, who has awarded multiple new players during his 24 months in command, tries to first establish the fundamental foundations of a competitive squad.

It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach responsible for attack, the current coach, will depart his position after the upcoming matches, becoming the next individual of Robertson's ticket to exit after Leon MacDonald left last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not only his winning record, but his methodology, that was expected to transfer from previous club when he began his tenure after the global competition but, so far, each remain a continuous improvement.

Organizational Strategy

After private equity firm investors invested capital in All Blacks in the past, the following communication discussed the "search of new global opportunities" for the team.

That task has perhaps been harder by the absence of a international celebrity. Their key player and the collection of related players remain recognizable personalities in the sport, but the concentration of talented players has expanded significantly. Savea is the only New Zealand player to earn international honors in the past six seasons, in opposition to 10 in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, attempts have been implemented to establish the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but Chicago, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team obtained a first ever victory in the contest during past tours.

Following the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have also