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Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their illustrious legacy, the All Blacks have headed north at an pivotal moment.

Games against the Irish team, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the coming month but, in addition to the opportunity to join the teams of previous successful tours in the record books, the games will be used as a measure to measure the improvement of the squad under a head coach now 24 months into from taking up the reins.

Team Issues

Doubts over a absence of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over player choices and leavings from the backroom staff have all added to the feeling that the best-known side in the sport is currently one in a period of transition.

Most significantly, it is the dip in performances from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has caused some to suggest that we have moved out of the era of All Black exceptionalism.

Team Record

Prior to their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that during the following season, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will play South Africa in a warm-weather tour dubbed 'a unique competition'.

In the past the sport's top competitors, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what organizers have labeled 'The Premier Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have won a couple of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be considered as the squad of their period.

New Zealand have persisted to beat Ireland when it is crucial, overcoming Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, lost just a pair of the recent encounters with the English team, have overcome the Welsh side in each game since 1963 and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

But the loss of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.

While the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the 2010s - achieving 87% of their international games, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on several instances - the global tournament of 2019 can now be seen as when the balance of power shifted in the international rugby.

New Zealand beat South Africa in their initial fixture of the tournament in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were eventually successful in Yokohama.

Since then, the All Blacks' success rate has declined to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, from the beginning of last year, have achieved victory at a rate (eighty-three percent) to match even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

During the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have secured victory in the majority of the past fixtures between the sides, including success in the recent championship match.

During their pursuit of their most recent southern hemisphere crown, the Springboks inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team thanks to overwhelming display in the capital, a score which has sparked another series of discussion concerning the direction of the team 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 attacking verve more typically linked with their traditional rivals.

Style Evolution

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the height of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of destroying competitors from all areas of the field and at any moment of the match.

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

It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach responsible for attack, the current coach, will leave his role after the autumn tour, making him the additional person of management team to depart after previous staff member walked away last year after just limited matches.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not merely previous achievements, but his methodology, that was predicted to carry over from his former team when he took over after the recent tournament but, so far, the two aspects continue to be a continuous improvement.

Commercial Considerations

After investment group the company invested capital in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the ensuing statement discussed the "search of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That goal has perhaps been harder by the lack of a crossover star. The current captain and the group of family members continue to be recognizable personalities in the game, but the spread of talented players has become more diverse. Their leader is the single New Zealand player to receive global recognition in the past six seasons, in opposition to ten awards in multiple seasons between the mid-2000s.

Global Expansion

Alternatively, initiatives have been made to introduce the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the stadium where Ireland achieved a historic win in the match nine years ago.

Since the relaxation of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have also