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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.

Games against the Irish team, Scotland, England and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the coming month but, quite aside from the opportunity to match the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a yardstick to evaluate the improvement of the side under a leader now two years on from taking up the reins.

Current Challenges

Concerns over a lack of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over selection and departures from the management team have all added to the feeling that the most famous squad in the sport is currently one in a state of flux.

Most importantly, it is the dip in outcomes from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has caused some to suggest that we have evolved beyond of the era of All Black exceptionalism.

Past Performance

Prior to their travel for the European tour, it was announced that during the following season, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in a warm-weather tour termed 'an unprecedented series'.

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

During the last decade, the South African team have claimed a couple of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be viewed as the squad of their era.

New Zealand have maintained to beat the Irish team when it is crucial, beating Saturday's opponents in the global competition of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, lost just a pair of the recent encounters with the English team, have overcome the Welsh side in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

But the decline of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will persist as an irritation.

Although the All Blacks reigned supreme through the last ten years - achieving 87% of their fixtures, as well as claiming the global trophy on multiple times - the global tournament of 2019 can now be seen as when the competitive landscape shifted in the global game.

New Zealand defeated the Springboks in their first game of the competition in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were eventually successful in the championship match.

From that point, the New Zealand's victory ratio has fallen to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of 2023, have won at a frequency (83%) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

Over the comparable duration, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the seven meetings between the opponents, featuring success in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their latest regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks courtesy of overwhelming display in the capital, a result which has sparked another wave of debate regarding the development of the team under the coach.

Perhaps most jarring for followers of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their traditional strength, the Springboks' achievement has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their own side.

Team Identity

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the peak of their capabilities a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of dismantling rivals from all areas of the pitch and at all times of the contest.

Now, their attacking style is less defined as their leader, who has awarded multiple new players during his 24 months in command, tries to first establish the basic building blocks of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the assistant coach overseeing attack, the current coach, will depart his position after the autumn tour, making him the second member of Robertson's ticket to depart after another coach departed last year after just a handful of games.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not only his winning record, but his methodology, that was predicted to translate from previous club when he took over after the global competition but, so far, each are still a continuous improvement.

Commercial Considerations

When private equity firm Silver Lake acquired shares in All Blacks in 2022, the following communication discussed the "quest of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That objective has perhaps been harder by the absence of a international celebrity. The current captain and the collection of family members continue to be recognizable personalities in the sport, but the concentration of key individuals has expanded significantly. Savea is the sole New Zealand player to win international honors in the recent years, in contrast to ten awards in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

Global Expansion

Alternatively, attempts have been undertaken to introduce the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The initial stage of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a return to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland secured a landmark success in the contest in previous seasons.

Since the relaxation of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have furthermore