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Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an interesting juncture.

Matches against the Irish team, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, beyond the possibility to equal the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a yardstick to assess the improvement of the team under a head coach now two years on from taking up the reins.

Team Issues

Concerns over a shortage of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over player choices and exits from the management team have all fueled the sense that the most famous squad in the game is currently one in a time of change.

Most significantly, it is the dip in results from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of the last decade that has led some to speculate that we have moved out of the era of All Black exceptionalism.

Recent History

Before their travel for the fall series, it was announced that in the coming year, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a warm-weather tour dubbed 'a unique competition'.

Historically the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has currently outperformed of what marketers have labeled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have secured a pair of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the side of their era.

The All Blacks have continued to defeat Ireland when it is crucial, defeating their next challengers in the global competition of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, been defeated in just a pair of the last fixtures with England, have overcome Wales in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

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

Although the All Blacks reigned supreme through the 2010s - achieving 87% of their Test matches, as well as claiming the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be seen as when the competitive landscape moved in the international rugby.

New Zealand defeated the Springboks in their first game of the championship in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in Yokohama.

Since then, the New Zealand's victory ratio has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their following games but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a rate (83%) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Recent Encounters

Throughout the comparable duration, the Springboks have won the majority of the past fixtures between the teams, featuring success in the recent championship match.

While securing their current southern hemisphere crown, the Springboks inflicted a significant beating on the New Zealand team courtesy of 36 unanswered second-half points in their home ground, a result which has ignited another series of debate about the direction of the side under Robertson.

Perhaps most concerning for fans of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their traditional strength, the Springboks' achievement has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their own side.

Style Evolution

During the period when the All Blacks were at the peak of their abilities a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of shredding opponents from every section of the playing surface and at all times of the match.

Today, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has awarded numerous first caps during his recent tenure in charge, tries to primarily create the basic core elements of a competitive squad.

It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager overseeing scoring, the current coach, will exit the team after the autumn tour, becoming the additional person of the coaching staff to depart after Leon MacDonald departed last year after just five Tests.

Team Development

It was not merely previous achievements, but his methodology, that was expected to translate from Crusaders when he took over after the global competition but, so far, each continue to be a continuous improvement.

Business Factors

Following financial organization Silver Lake bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the subsequent announcement spoke of the "search of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That task has perhaps been more difficult by the absence of a crossover star. The current captain and the group of family members are still household names in the rugby, but the spread of stars has become more diverse. Savea is the sole All Black to earn World Player of the Year in the recent years, in contrast to 10 in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Alternatively, efforts have been implemented to introduce the New Zealand team into new territories.

The first leg of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland secured a landmark success in the contest during past tours.

After the easing of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have also