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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, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the chance to join the squads of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to measure the progress of the squad under a manager now two years on from assuming control.

Team Issues

Concerns over a lack of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over selection and departures from the management team have all contributed to the feeling that the most recognisable team in the sport is currently one in a time of change.

Most pertinently, it is the decline in performances from a past excellence set between the World Cups of the last decade that has led some to speculate that we have evolved beyond of the era of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Prior to their journey for the European tour, it was announced that during the following season, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will meet the Springboks in a summer series called 'a unique competition'.

Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what organizers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have won a pair of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the side of their generation.

The All Blacks have maintained to defeat the Irish team when it matters most, defeating this weekend's rivals in the global competition of recent years. They have, at the same time, lost just a couple of the past 21 meetings with England, have overcome Wales in each game since over sixty years ago and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

But the diminishment of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

While the New Zealand team excelled through the 2010s - achieving eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as claiming the global trophy on several instances - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the balance of power shifted in the global game.

New Zealand overcame the Springboks in their opening match of the tournament in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the championship match.

After that event, the All Blacks' success rate has dropped to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, since the start of last year, have won at a rate (83%) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

During the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have secured victory in five of the seven meetings between the opponents, comprising triumph in the recent championship match.

While securing their most recent continental championship, the Springboks inflicted a significant beating on the All Blacks thanks to overwhelming display in their home ground, a outcome which has triggered another series of controversy concerning the development of the squad under the coach.

Possibly most jarring for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their traditional strength, South Africa's achievement has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their own side.

Style Evolution

When the New Zealand team were at the height of their capabilities in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit capable of shredding competitors from any part of the field and at any moment of the contest.

Currently, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as their leader, who has given numerous first caps during his recent tenure in control, tries to first establish the fundamental building blocks of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member in charge of attack, the current coach, will leave his role after the autumn tour, becoming the additional person of management team to depart after previous staff member departed last year after just five Tests.

Team Development

It was not merely Robertson's success, but his approach, that was predicted to carry over from his former team when he assumed control after the global competition but, as yet, each continue to be a continuous improvement.

Organizational Strategy

Following financial organization Silver Lake acquired shares in All Blacks in the past, the following communication spoke of the "search of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That objective has possibly been more challenging by the lack of a international celebrity. Their key player and the collection of Barrett brothers continue to be household names in the sport, but the distribution of stars has become more diverse. The captain is the sole New Zealand player to earn international honors in the current era, in contrast to 10 in 13 years between the mid-2000s.

Global Expansion

Rather, attempts have been made to establish the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a comeback to the location where Ireland achieved a first ever victory in the match during past tours.

After the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have additionally