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Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Games against Ireland, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, beyond the opportunity to equal the teams of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a benchmark to measure the development of the side under a manager now 24 months into from beginning his tenure.

Current Challenges

Concerns over a lack of an distinctive approach, enduring debates over player choices and leavings from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the sense that the most recognisable team in the rugby is now one in a time of change.

Most pertinently, it is the drop in performances from a previous peak set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has prompted some to suggest that we have moved out of the period of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Prior to their departure for the European tour, it was announced that in the coming year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play South Africa in a summer series termed 'a unique competition'.

Historically the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has lately dominated of what promoters have described 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have secured a couple of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the squad of their generation.

New Zealand have persisted to beat the Irish team when it counts most, beating their next challengers in the tournament knockout stages of recent years. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a pair of the recent encounters with England, have defeated the Welsh side in every encounter since the sixties and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

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

Although the All Blacks dominated through the previous decade - securing 87% of their Test matches, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on several instances - the global tournament of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power moved in the global game.

New Zealand overcame South Africa in their first game of the tournament in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the final.

From that point, the New Zealand's success rate has declined to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in ten of their subsequent fixtures but, from the beginning of last year, have achieved victory at a rate (eighty-three percent) to match even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

During the comparable duration, the 'Boks have won five of the past fixtures between the sides, including success in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their most recent southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a significant beating on the New Zealand team thanks to overwhelming display in Wellington, a outcome which has triggered another series of controversy about the progress of the side under the coach.

Possibly most troubling for followers of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their traditional strength, the Springboks' achievement has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their own side.

Playing Philosophy

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit equipped of destroying opponents from all areas of the pitch and at any moment of the contest.

Currently, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as the coach, who has given 19 debuts during his recent tenure in command, tries to primarily create the more prosaic core elements of a winning team.

It has previously announced that the backroom staff member overseeing offense, the current coach, will depart his position after the upcoming matches, making him the second member of the coaching staff to exit after Leon MacDonald left last year after just limited matches.

Performance Gap

It was not only previous achievements, but his approach, that was predicted to transfer from his former team when he assumed control after the 2023 World Cup but, as yet, both continue to be a continuous improvement.

Organizational Strategy

After investment group Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in the past, the subsequent announcement discussed the "search of worldwide growth" for the brand.

That task has maybe been more difficult by the shortage of a global icon. Their key player and the group of family members continue to be household names in the game, but the concentration of talented players has never been spread wider. Savea is the single All Black to win World Player of the Year in the current era, in opposition to ten awards in multiple seasons between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Alternatively, initiatives have been undertaken to introduce the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.

The initial stage of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to Dublin but Chicago, a comeback to the stadium where the Irish team achieved a first ever victory in the fixture in previous seasons.

After the relaxation of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have furthermore