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Aiming for what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their legendary past, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an interesting juncture.

Games against the Irish team, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, beyond the chance to join the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the games will be used as a measure to evaluate the development of the squad under a head coach now well established from beginning his tenure.

Current Challenges

Doubts over a absence of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over player choices and departures from the management team have all added to the feeling that the best-known side in the sport is now one in a state of flux.

Most importantly, it is the drop in results from a past excellence set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the era of Kiwi superiority.

Recent History

Prior to their travel for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that next year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will meet the Springboks in a summer series called 'a unique competition'.

In the past the game's two strongest sides, there is clear agreement over who has recently got the better of what organizers have called 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have claimed a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be considered as the squad of their era.

The All Blacks have continued to beat the Irish team when it matters most, overcoming their next challengers in the global competition of recent years. They have, additionally, lost just a pair of the past 21 meetings with England, have overcome Wales in all matches since 1963 and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.

Changing Dynamics

But the diminishment of their standing as the game's gold standard will continue to rankle.

Although the New Zealand team dominated through the last ten years - securing 87% of their international games, as well as lifting the World Cup on several instances - the World Cup of 2019 can now be seen as when the competitive landscape shifted in the global game.

The All Blacks beat the Springboks in their first game of the competition in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in the final.

From that point, the New Zealand's winning percentage has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of last year, have won at a rate (83%) to compete with even the previous All Blacks side.

Recent Encounters

Throughout the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have secured victory in five of the seven meetings between the opponents, featuring triumph in the latest global tournament decider.

While securing their latest continental championship, the Springboks administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks through dominant performance in their home ground, a score which has triggered another series of discussion regarding the direction of the team under their leader.

Maybe most jarring for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their usual power, the Springboks' triumph has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their traditional rivals.

Style Evolution

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the peak of their abilities a decade past, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit capable of dismantling competitors from any part of the playing surface and at all times of the match.

Currently, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has handed out numerous first caps during his two years in charge, tries to initially build the more prosaic core elements of a winning team.

It has previously announced that the supporting manager overseeing attack, the current coach, will leave his role after the autumn tour, becoming the next individual of Robertson's ticket to exit after previous staff member walked away last year after just limited matches.

Performance Gap

It was not only Robertson's success, but his style, that was predicted to translate from his former team when he began his tenure after the global competition but, as yet, the two aspects continue to be a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

Following investment group investors bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in the past, the ensuing statement mentioned the "pursuit of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That goal has possibly been more challenging by the shortage of a global icon. Their key player and the group of related players are still household names in the rugby, but the concentration of stars has never been spread wider. Savea is the sole All Black to win international honors in the past six seasons, in opposition to ten awards in multiple seasons between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Alternatively, attempts have been made to establish the All Blacks into new territories.

The first leg of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the stadium where Ireland obtained a landmark success in the contest in previous seasons.

After the reduction of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the New Zealand team have furthermore