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Pursuing what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the New Zealand side have headed north at an interesting juncture.

Games against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the chance to join the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the matches will be used as a yardstick to assess the improvement of the side under a manager now 24 months into from taking up the reins.

Present Difficulties

Questions over a shortage of an identifiable style, continuing controversies over player choices and departures from the coaching ticket have all fueled the sense that the most recognisable team in the rugby is now one in a period of transition.

Most importantly, it is the drop in results from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has caused some to theorize that we have moved out of the age of Kiwi superiority.

Recent History

Before their travel for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that next year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play South Africa in a warm-weather tour dubbed 'an unprecedented series'.

In the past the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what promoters have labeled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

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

The All Blacks have maintained to defeat the Irish team when it matters most, defeating Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just two of the last fixtures with England, have defeated the Welsh side in each game since over sixty years ago and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Changing Dynamics

But the decline of their standing as the game's gold standard will persist as an irritation.

While the New Zealand team dominated through the previous decade - achieving eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as claiming the Webb Ellis on two occasions - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power moved in the international rugby.

The All Blacks overcame the Springboks in their opening match of the competition in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

From that point, the New Zealand's success rate has declined to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their following games but, from the beginning of last year, have won at a percentage (83%) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.

Head-to-Head

Over the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have won five of the recent encounters between the teams, featuring victory in the latest global tournament decider.

In claiming their most recent regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks courtesy of overwhelming display in Wellington, a outcome which has sparked another wave of discussion regarding the direction of the squad under the coach.

Maybe most troubling for followers of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their usual power, the Springboks' success has come with an attacking verve more typically linked with their own side.

Team Identity

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their powers in previous eras, they were a clinical transition team capable of dismantling opponents from every section of the pitch and at any point of the contest.

Currently, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as their leader, who has awarded 19 debuts during his two years in command, tries to first establish the basic foundations of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member overseeing scoring, their offensive coordinator, will leave his role after the autumn tour, becoming the second member of Robertson's ticket to depart after previous staff member left last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not just Robertson's success, but his approach, that was expected to carry over from his former team when he took over after the global competition but, to date, each are still a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

After private equity firm investors acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the following communication spoke of the "pursuit of worldwide growth" for the team.

That objective has perhaps been harder by the shortage of a international celebrity. Their key player and the trio of related players are still recognizable personalities in the sport, but the distribution of key individuals has expanded significantly. The captain is the sole All Black to receive global recognition in the past six seasons, in comparison to ten awards in over a decade between the mid-2000s.

Global Expansion

Alternatively, efforts have been made to introduce the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The initial stage of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team obtained a first ever victory in the match during past tours.

After the reduction of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have furthermore