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Pursuing what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their legendary past, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an interesting juncture.

Matches against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the coming month but, in addition to the opportunity to match the teams of previous successful tours in the record books, the matches will be used as a measure to assess the progress of the side under a manager now well established from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Concerns over a shortage of an distinctive approach, ongoing discussions over selection and exits from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the perception that the best-known side in the game is now one in a state of flux.

Most significantly, it is the drop in performances from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to speculate that we have transitioned away of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Ahead of their departure for the fall series, it was confirmed that next year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will meet South Africa in a off-season matches dubbed 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally the rugby's premier teams, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what marketers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have won a couple of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the home nations team to be viewed as the squad of their era.

The All Blacks have maintained to defeat Ireland when it counts most, beating Saturday's opponents in the global competition of the past two tournaments. They have, additionally, been defeated in just a pair of the last fixtures with England, have beaten the Welsh side in each game since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the loss of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.

Whereas the New Zealand team excelled through the last ten years - achieving eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as lifting the World Cup on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the competitive landscape changed in the international rugby.

New Zealand beat South Africa in their opening match of the tournament in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in the championship match.

From that point, the All Blacks' victory ratio has fallen to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, since the start of 2023, have won at a rate (83%) to match even the former Kiwi champions.

Recent Encounters

Over the comparable duration, the 'Boks have secured victory in five of the past fixtures between the teams, comprising success in the latest global tournament decider.

In claiming their most recent southern hemisphere crown, South Africa inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team courtesy of overwhelming display in Wellington, a outcome which has ignited another series of discussion about the development of the squad under Robertson.

Maybe most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their traditional strength, South Africa's triumph has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their own side.

Style Evolution

When the All Blacks were at the zenith of their abilities in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of dismantling competitors from any part of the playing surface and at any point of the match.

Now, their playing philosophy is less defined as the coach, who has awarded 19 debuts during his two years in command, tries to initially build the fundamental core elements of a competitive squad.

It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach responsible for offense, Jason Holland, will depart his position after the autumn tour, making him the second member of Robertson's ticket to depart after another coach left last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not merely Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was predicted to carry over from Crusaders when he took over after the global competition but, to date, both remain a work in progress.

Business Factors

Following private equity firm the company acquired shares in All Blacks in 2022, the following communication mentioned the "quest of international expansion" for the brand.

That goal has possibly been more challenging by the absence of a crossover star. Their key player and the group of Barrett brothers continue to be household names in the sport, but the spread of key individuals has expanded significantly. The captain is the only All Black to earn World Player of the Year in the current era, in comparison to ten awards in over a decade between previous generations.

Global Expansion

Instead, efforts have been undertaken to introduce the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The initial stage of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to Dublin but the American city, a comeback to the stadium where Ireland achieved a landmark success in the contest in previous seasons.

After the easing of health protocols, the New Zealand team have also