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Pursuing what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have headed north at an crucial period.

Matches against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and Wales await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the opportunity to join the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the matches will be used as a measure to measure the improvement of the team under a leader now well established from taking up the reins.

Current Challenges

Questions over a absence of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over selection and exits from the backroom staff have all added to the sense that the best-known side in the sport is presently one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the decline in performances from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has prompted some to suggest that we have moved out of the era of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Ahead of their journey for the European tour, it was confirmed that next year, in the non-existence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will meet the Springboks in a warm-weather tour called 'a unique competition'.

Traditionally the game's two strongest sides, there is clear agreement over who has lately dominated of what organizers have described 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have won a couple of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the side of their era.

The All Blacks have continued to overcome the Irish team when it counts most, overcoming their next challengers in the global competition of recent years. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a pair of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have defeated Wales in all matches since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

But the decline of their status as the game's gold standard will persist as an irritation.

While the New Zealand team dominated through the last ten years - achieving 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the global trophy on two occasions - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the hierarchical structure moved in the international rugby.

The All Blacks overcame South Africa in their initial fixture of the tournament in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

After that event, the New Zealand's success rate has fallen to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their following games but, from the beginning of last year, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to match even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

During the comparable duration, the Springboks have won the majority of the recent encounters between the opponents, including triumph in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their most recent southern hemisphere crown, South Africa delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks courtesy of overwhelming display in their home ground, a score which has sparked another round of discussion about the progress of the squad under the coach.

Maybe most concerning for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their usual power, the Springboks' triumph has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their traditional rivals.

Team Identity

During the period when the All Blacks were at the zenith of their capabilities a decade past, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of dismantling rivals from any part of the field and at any moment of the contest.

Currently, their attacking style is less defined as Robertson, who has given numerous first caps during his recent tenure in command, tries to primarily create the fundamental foundations of a successful side.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager in charge of offense, their offensive coordinator, will leave his role after the fall series, making him the next individual of Robertson's ticket to exit after previous staff member walked away last year after just a handful of games.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not merely previous achievements, but his methodology, that was predicted to carry over from his former team when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, so far, both continue to be a work in progress.

Business Factors

Following financial organization the company invested capital in All Blacks in 2022, the following communication mentioned the "pursuit of worldwide growth" for the brand.

That goal has maybe been more difficult by the shortage of a crossover star. The current captain and the group of Barrett brothers remain recognizable personalities in the rugby, but the concentration of talented players has become more diverse. Savea is the single New Zealand player to receive World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in contrast to 10 in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Rather, initiatives have been undertaken to transplant the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland obtained a first ever victory in the match nine years ago.

Since the easing of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have also