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Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Matches against Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the upcoming weeks but, quite aside from the opportunity to equal the sides of previous successful tours in the record books, the games will be used as a measure to assess the progress of the side under a head coach now 24 months into from taking up the reins.

Team Issues

Questions over a lack of an identifiable style, enduring debates over player choices and departures from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the sense that the best-known side in the rugby is now one in a state of flux.

Most importantly, it is the dip in performances from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of the last decade that has led some to suggest that we have moved out of the era of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Ahead of their travel for the European tour, it was revealed that next year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will face South Africa in a off-season matches dubbed 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the rugby's premier teams, there is clear agreement over who has recently got the better of what marketers have called 'The Premier Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have won a pair of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be considered as the squad of their era.

New Zealand have continued to beat Ireland when it counts most, defeating Saturday's opponents in the tournament knockout stages of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, lost just a pair of the last fixtures with the English team, have defeated Wales in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

But the diminishment of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will remain frustrating.

Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the 2010s - securing eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as winning the World Cup on multiple times - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the hierarchical structure moved in the international rugby.

The All Blacks beat the Springboks in their first game of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.

After that event, the New Zealand's success rate has declined to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their following games but, since the start of last year, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to match even the last great New Zealand team.

Direct Competition

Throughout the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have won the majority of the past fixtures between the sides, comprising triumph in the recent championship match.

In claiming their latest continental championship, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a significant beating on the All Blacks thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in their home ground, a outcome which has sparked another wave of controversy about the development of the team under their leader.

Perhaps most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their traditional strength, the Springboks' triumph has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their traditional rivals.

Team Identity

When the All Blacks were at the zenith of their capabilities in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine able of shredding competitors from every section of the field and at any point of the contest.

Currently, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as the coach, who has handed out numerous first caps during his 24 months in control, tries to initially build the fundamental core elements of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager overseeing attack, their offensive coordinator, will leave his role after the upcoming matches, becoming the additional person of the coaching staff to leave after Leon MacDonald walked away last year after just limited matches.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not just Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was expected to carry over from his former team when he took over after the global competition but, to date, each continue to be a continuous improvement.

Commercial Considerations

Following financial organization Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in the past, the subsequent announcement discussed the "pursuit of worldwide growth" for the team.

That objective has maybe been more challenging by the lack of a crossover star. The current captain and the trio of family members are still well-known figures in the rugby, but the spread of talented players has become more diverse. Savea is the only All Black to earn global recognition in the recent years, in opposition to 10 in over a decade between the mid-2000s.

Global Expansion

Alternatively, efforts have been implemented to transplant the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the location where Ireland achieved a first ever victory in the contest during past tours.

Following the relaxation of health protocols, the New Zealand team have also