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Seeking what would be just a fifth tour victory in their legendary past, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an crucial period.

Games against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await the All Blacks across the coming month but, in addition to the possibility to join the squads of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the fixtures will be used as a yardstick to assess the progress of the team under a leader now two years on from taking up the reins.

Current Challenges

Concerns over a absence of an identifiable style, enduring debates over selection and departures from the coaching ticket have all fueled the perception that the best-known side in the sport is now one in a state of flux.

Most pertinently, it is the dip in results from a previous peak set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to speculate that we have moved out of the period of All Black exceptionalism.

Recent History

Ahead of their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was announced that next year, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will face the Springboks in a warm-weather tour termed 'a tour like no other'.

Historically the rugby's premier teams, there is clear agreement over who has lately dominated of what promoters have described 'The Ultimate Contest'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have claimed a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the home nations team to be viewed as the squad of their era.

The All Blacks have persisted to beat Ireland when it matters most, overcoming their next challengers in the tournament knockout stages of 2019 and '23. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just two of the recent encounters with England, have overcome Wales in all matches since 1963 and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

But the loss of their standing as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.

Whereas the All Blacks excelled through the last ten years - winning eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as claiming the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power moved in the global game.

The All Blacks beat South Africa in their opening match of the competition in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in Yokohama.

From that point, the New Zealand's victory ratio has fallen to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost ten of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of last year, have achieved victory at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to compete with even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

During the same period, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the recent encounters between the teams, including success in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their most recent regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a significant beating on the All Blacks courtesy of 36 unanswered second-half points in Wellington, a score which has triggered another series of discussion about the development of the team under the coach.

Possibly most concerning for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' success has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their opposition team.

Team Identity

When the New Zealand team were at the peak of their capabilities a decade past, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of shredding opponents from every section of the field and at any moment of the match.

Currently, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as their leader, who has awarded 19 debuts during his recent tenure in command, tries to primarily create the more prosaic building blocks of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach responsible for scoring, Jason Holland, will exit the team after the fall series, becoming the second member 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 just Robertson's success, but his approach, that was predicted to carry over from his former team when he began his tenure after the global competition but, as yet, each remain a work in progress.

Commercial Considerations

After private equity firm the company acquired shares in All Blacks in recent years, the subsequent announcement discussed the "search of worldwide growth" for the team.

That objective has possibly been more challenging by the lack of a crossover star. Ardie Savea and the group of related players remain well-known figures in the rugby, but the distribution of stars has expanded significantly. Savea is the sole All Black to receive global recognition in the recent years, in opposition to ten awards in 13 years between the mid-2000s.

International Growth

Rather, initiatives have been made to transplant the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.

The first leg of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but the American city, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team secured a first ever victory in the fixture nine years ago.

After the reduction of health protocols, the All Blacks have also