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Aiming for what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have headed north at an crucial period.

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 equal the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the games will be used as a benchmark to measure the development of the team under a manager now 24 months into from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Concerns over a lack of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over selection and leavings from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the feeling that the best-known side in the game is now one in a period of transition.

Most importantly, it is the decline in outcomes from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has caused some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the era of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Prior to their journey for the fall series, it was revealed that in the coming year, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will play South Africa in a warm-weather tour termed 'a unique competition'.

Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is little doubt over who has currently outperformed of what marketers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have won a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be considered as the team of their period.

New Zealand have maintained to overcome Ireland when it matters most, defeating this weekend's rivals in the tournament knockout stages of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a pair of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have defeated Wales in all matches since 1963 and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

But the diminishment of their status as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.

Although the All Blacks dominated through the 2010s - securing eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on several instances - the global tournament of 2019 can now be viewed as when the balance of power shifted in the global game.

New Zealand defeated South Africa in their opening match of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in the championship match.

From that point, the New Zealand's success rate has declined to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of last year, have won at a rate (eighty-three percent) to match even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

Over the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have won the majority of the past fixtures between the opponents, including triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their latest southern hemisphere crown, the Springboks inflicted a significant beating on the All Blacks thanks to dominant performance in their home ground, a result which has sparked another series of controversy about the development of the side under Robertson.

Maybe most troubling for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their traditional strength, the Springboks' triumph has come with an creative approach more commonly connected with their traditional rivals.

Playing Philosophy

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the peak of their powers a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of dismantling rivals from any part of the pitch and at any point of the contest.

Now, their playing philosophy is unclear as their leader, who has handed out 19 debuts during his two years in control, tries to first establish the basic building blocks of a competitive squad.

It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager in charge of offense, Jason Holland, will depart his position after the upcoming matches, becoming the next individual of Robertson's ticket to leave after another coach left last year after just a handful of games.

Team Development

It was not only previous achievements, but his methodology, that was predicted to transfer from his former team when he assumed control after the global competition but, to date, the two aspects are still a ongoing development.

Business Factors

Following financial organization the company acquired shares in All Blacks in recent years, the subsequent announcement mentioned the "pursuit of worldwide growth" for the organization.

That goal has maybe been more difficult by the shortage of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers continue to be household names in the game, but the distribution of talented players has become more diverse. The captain is the sole New Zealand player to win World Player of the Year in the current era, in comparison to 10 in over a decade between previous generations.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, efforts have been implemented to introduce the New Zealand team into new territories.

The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the location where the Irish team achieved a historic win in the match nine years ago.

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