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Seeking what would be just a fifth tour victory in their storied history, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an crucial period.

Games against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, quite aside from the opportunity to match the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the development of the squad under a head coach now well established from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Concerns over a lack of an clear playing identity, enduring debates over team picks and departures from the coaching ticket have all fueled the feeling that the best-known side in the game is presently one in a period of transition.

Most importantly, it is the drop in results from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has led some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the period of Kiwi superiority.

Past Performance

Ahead of their travel for the European tour, it was revealed that in the coming year, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will play the Springboks in a warm-weather tour termed 'an unprecedented series'.

In the past the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has lately dominated of what organizers have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have claimed a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be considered as the team of their era.

The All Blacks have continued to defeat Ireland when it is crucial, defeating Saturday's opponents in the global competition of the past two tournaments. They have, meanwhile, lost just a couple of the last fixtures with England, have defeated the Welsh side in all matches since over sixty years ago and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

But the decline of their status as the game's gold standard will continue to rankle.

Whereas the All Blacks reigned supreme through the last ten years - winning 87% of their fixtures, as well as claiming the global trophy on two occasions - the global tournament of 2019 can now be seen as when the competitive landscape changed in the global game.

New Zealand defeated South Africa in their opening match of the championship in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in the championship match.

Since then, the New Zealand's success rate has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves lost ten of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a rate (83%) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.

Head-to-Head

Throughout the same period, the South African team have won five of the seven meetings between the teams, featuring victory in the 2023 World Cup final.

While securing their most recent continental championship, the Springboks delivered a historic loss on the New Zealand team thanks to dominant performance in their home ground, a outcome which has triggered another series of debate about the direction of the side under their leader.

Perhaps most concerning for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their usual power, South Africa's triumph has come with an creative approach more usually associated with their own side.

Team Identity

At the time that the All Blacks were at the height of their powers a decade past, they were a clinical transition team able of shredding rivals from every section of the playing surface and at any moment of the contest.

Currently, their attacking style is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has handed out numerous first caps during his two years in command, tries to first establish the basic foundations of a competitive squad.

It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager in charge of attack, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the autumn tour, making him the next individual of the coaching staff to exit after another coach departed last year after just limited matches.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not only previous achievements, but his approach, that was expected to transfer from Crusaders when he took over after the 2023 World Cup but, as yet, the two aspects are still a work in progress.

Organizational Strategy

After private equity firm Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in the past, the ensuing statement discussed the "search of international expansion" for the brand.

That goal has maybe been more challenging by the shortage of a crossover star. Their key player and the trio of family members remain household names in the game, but the distribution of stars has expanded significantly. Their leader is the sole New Zealand player to win global recognition in the recent years, in comparison to 10 in multiple seasons between 2005 and '07.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, initiatives have been undertaken to establish the All Blacks into new territories.

The initial stage of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a revisit to the stadium where Ireland secured a historic win in the contest during past tours.

Since the reduction of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have additionally