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Pursuing what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Fixtures against the Irish team, Scotland, England and Wales await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, quite aside from the possibility to match the squads of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the progress of the squad under a manager now well established from taking up the reins.

Present Difficulties

Questions over a lack of an distinctive approach, ongoing discussions over team picks and departures from the coaching ticket have all fueled the sense that the most recognisable team in the sport is now one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the decline in results from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has caused some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the period of New Zealand dominance.

Recent History

Before their travel for the fall series, it was announced that during the following season, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play South Africa in a warm-weather tour dubbed 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has lately dominated of what organizers have called 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have claimed a couple of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a series against the northern hemisphere selection to be considered as the team of their generation.

New Zealand have continued to overcome the Irish team when it is crucial, defeating their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, meanwhile, lost just a couple of the past 21 meetings with England, have beaten the Welsh side in every encounter since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Shifting Balance

But the loss of their position as the rugby's benchmark will persist as an irritation.

Although the All Blacks excelled through the previous decade - securing eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as winning the global trophy on multiple times - the global tournament of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power changed in the world sport.

The All Blacks beat South Africa in their opening match of the championship in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.

From that point, the All Blacks' victory ratio has dropped to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost ten of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of last year, have won at a rate (eighty-three percent) to match even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

During the comparable duration, the Springboks have secured victory in the majority of the recent encounters between the sides, including triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their latest regional title, South Africa administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in Wellington, a result which has sparked another wave of debate concerning the direction of the squad under Robertson.

Possibly most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their traditional strength, South Africa's achievement has come with an offensive flair more typically linked with their own side.

Style Evolution

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the height of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a clinical transition team capable of destroying opponents from all areas of the field and at any moment of the game.

Now, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as the coach, who has given multiple new players during his two years in charge, tries to primarily create the basic building blocks of a winning team.

It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager responsible for offense, the current coach, will exit the team after the upcoming matches, making him the second member of the coaching staff to exit after previous staff member left last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not just Robertson's success, but his style, that was anticipated to carry over from previous club when he assumed control after the 2023 World Cup but, so far, the two aspects continue to be a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

When private equity firm investors bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the ensuing statement spoke of the "search of worldwide growth" for the organization.

That objective has perhaps been more challenging by the absence of a crossover star. Ardie Savea and the group of family members continue to be household names in the sport, but the distribution of talented players has become more diverse. Their leader is the only All Black to earn global recognition in the past six seasons, in contrast to 10 in multiple seasons between the mid-2000s.

Worldwide Reach

Rather, efforts have been implemented to establish the New Zealand team into new territories.

The opening phase of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team obtained a landmark success in the contest during past tours.

Since the reduction of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have also