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Aiming for what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an interesting juncture.

Matches against Ireland, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the opportunity to equal the squads of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a measure to measure the progress of the squad under a leader now well established from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a lack of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over player choices and leavings from the management team have all added to the feeling that the best-known side in the game is presently one in a period of transition.

Most significantly, it is the drop in results from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to speculate that we have moved out of the era of Kiwi superiority.

Recent History

Before their departure for the fall series, it was announced that next year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play South Africa in a summer series termed 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has currently outperformed of what promoters have called 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have claimed a two of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the side of their generation.

New Zealand have maintained to defeat Ireland when it counts most, beating their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of 2019 and '23. They have, meanwhile, lost just a couple of the past 21 meetings with England, have overcome Wales in every encounter since 1963 and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the loss of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.

While the All Blacks excelled through the previous decade - securing 87% of their international games, as well as claiming the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be viewed as when the hierarchical structure shifted in the world sport.

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

Since then, the All Blacks' victory ratio has dropped to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of last year, have won at a frequency (83%) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

During the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have won the majority of the recent encounters between the teams, featuring victory in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their latest southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a historic loss on the All Blacks courtesy of 36 unanswered second-half points in their home ground, a outcome which has sparked another wave of discussion about the development of the side under the coach.

Perhaps most concerning for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their usual power, South Africa's achievement has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their traditional rivals.

Playing Philosophy

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their abilities in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of dismantling opponents from all areas of the pitch and at any moment of the game.

Today, their attacking style is unclear as their leader, who has handed out 19 debuts during his 24 months in charge, tries to primarily create the fundamental foundations of a winning team.

It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach in charge of scoring, the current coach, will depart his position after the fall series, becoming the next individual of Robertson's ticket to depart after another coach left last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not merely his winning record, but his style, that was predicted to carry over from Crusaders when he assumed control after the 2023 World Cup but, so far, each continue to be a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

Following private equity firm Silver Lake bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in the past, the following communication spoke of the "quest of international expansion" for the brand.

That task has possibly been more difficult by the shortage of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the collection of family members continue to be recognizable personalities in the rugby, but the distribution of key individuals has never been spread wider. The captain is the only New Zealand player to win international honors in the current era, in contrast to ten awards in multiple seasons between previous generations.

Worldwide Reach

Instead, efforts have been implemented to establish the New Zealand team into new territories.

The initial stage of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a return to the stadium where Ireland secured a landmark success in the fixture during past tours.

After the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have also