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Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their legendary past, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Fixtures against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, beyond the chance to match the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the matches will be used as a measure to measure the development of the side under a leader now two years on from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Questions over a shortage of an identifiable style, continuing controversies over player choices and exits from the backroom staff have all contributed to the feeling that the most famous squad in the sport is currently one in a time of change.

Most significantly, it is the drop in outcomes from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the era of Kiwi superiority.

Past Performance

Before their travel for the European tour, it was announced that next year, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a warm-weather tour termed 'a unique competition'.

Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is clear agreement over who has currently outperformed of what organizers have called 'The Premier Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the South African team have claimed a pair of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a series against the northern hemisphere selection to be regarded as the side of their period.

The All Blacks have persisted to beat the Irish team when it matters most, beating this weekend's rivals in the global competition of 2019 and '23. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just a couple of the last fixtures with England, have defeated Wales in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

But the decline of their status as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.

Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the 2010s - achieving eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as claiming the global trophy on two occasions - the global tournament of 2019 can now be regarded as when the hierarchical structure changed in the world sport.

New Zealand beat the Springboks in their opening match of the championship in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were eventually successful in the final.

From that point, the All Blacks' victory ratio has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of 2023, have achieved victory at a frequency (83%) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

During the comparable duration, the South African team have secured victory in five of the seven meetings between the sides, including victory in the recent championship match.

While securing their most recent regional title, South Africa delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks through 36 unanswered second-half points in their home ground, a score which has ignited another round of debate about the progress of the team under the coach.

Perhaps most jarring for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their usual power, the Springboks' success has come with an offensive flair more commonly connected with their opposition team.

Team Identity

At the time that the All Blacks were at the height of their powers a decade past, they were a clinical transition team able of shredding rivals from every section of the pitch and at any moment of the contest.

Currently, their attacking style is unclear as their leader, who has given multiple new players during his two years in control, tries to primarily create the basic core elements of a winning team.

It has recently revealed that the backroom staff member responsible for scoring, the current coach, will leave his role after the fall series, making him the next individual of Robertson's ticket to exit after previous staff member departed last year after just a handful of games.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not only his winning record, but his style, that was predicted to translate from previous club when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, to date, the two aspects are still a continuous improvement.

Organizational Strategy

Following private equity firm the company invested capital in All Blacks in the past, the following communication spoke of the "quest of new global opportunities" for the team.

That objective has perhaps been more difficult by the absence of a crossover star. Ardie Savea and the group of family members continue to be recognizable personalities in the sport, but the distribution of stars has become more diverse. Their leader is the sole All Black to win international honors in the current era, in contrast to 10 in over a decade between the mid-2000s.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, initiatives have been implemented to transplant the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The initial stage of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland secured a historic win in the match nine years ago.

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