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Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their illustrious legacy, the All Blacks have headed north at an interesting juncture.

Fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the opportunity to match the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the matches will be used as a measure to measure the progress of the squad under a manager now 24 months into from assuming control.

Team Issues

Questions over a lack of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over selection and exits from the backroom staff have all added to the sense that the best-known side in the game is currently one in a time of change.

Most pertinently, it is the drop in results from a past excellence set between the World Cups of the last decade that has prompted some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the period of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Before their journey for the European tour, it was confirmed that next year, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will play South Africa in a summer series termed 'a unique competition'.

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

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have claimed a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the British and Irish Lions to be considered as the side of their era.

The All Blacks have persisted to defeat the Irish team when it counts most, defeating their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just a couple of the last fixtures with England, have defeated the Welsh side in all matches since 1963 and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.

Shifting Balance

But the decline of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

Although the All Blacks dominated through the last ten years - winning 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the World Cup on two occasions - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the hierarchical structure changed in the global game.

New Zealand overcame the Springboks in their first game of the championship in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the championship match.

After that event, the New Zealand's victory ratio has declined to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their following games but, from the beginning of last year, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to compete with even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

During the same period, the 'Boks have secured victory in the majority of the recent encounters between the teams, including triumph in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their most recent continental championship, the Springboks inflicted a historic loss 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 concerning the development of the team under Robertson.

Maybe most concerning for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' success has come with an creative approach more commonly connected with their own side.

Style Evolution

During the period when the All Blacks were at the height of their abilities in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of shredding rivals from any part of the field and at all times of the match.

Currently, their attacking style is unclear as their leader, who has awarded 19 debuts during his recent tenure in charge, tries to first establish the fundamental foundations of a winning team.

It has previously announced that the assistant coach in charge of scoring, the current coach, will depart his position after the fall series, making him the additional person of management team to leave after previous staff member departed last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not just Robertson's success, but his approach, that was expected to carry over from Crusaders when he assumed control after the global competition but, to date, each continue to be a continuous improvement.

Organizational Strategy

When private equity firm investors bought a stake in All Blacks in the past, the following communication mentioned the "quest of international expansion" for the team.

That task has maybe been more challenging by the shortage of a global icon. The current captain and the trio of family members continue to be household names in the rugby, but the concentration of talented players has never been spread wider. Savea is the only New Zealand player to earn World Player of the Year in the recent years, in opposition to ten awards in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

Worldwide Reach

Rather, attempts have been made to introduce the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but Chicago, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland secured a landmark success in the fixture during past tours.

Since the reduction of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the New Zealand team have additionally