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Aiming for what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their legendary past, 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 upcoming weeks but, beyond the chance to match the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the matches will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the development of the side under a manager now well established from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a lack of an identifiable style, enduring debates over selection and exits from the coaching ticket have all fueled the perception that the most recognisable team in the game is presently one in a period of transition.

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

Recent History

Prior to their journey for the fall series, it was announced that in the coming year, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will face the Springboks in a warm-weather tour termed 'an unprecedented series'.

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

During the last decade, the South African team have won a two of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the home nations team to be regarded as the side of their generation.

The All Blacks have continued to defeat Ireland when it is crucial, defeating their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, at the same time, lost just a pair of the past 21 meetings with England, have overcome the Welsh side in all matches since the sixties and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.

Changing Dynamics

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

Although the All Blacks excelled through the previous decade - winning eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape shifted in the global game.

The All Blacks defeated the Springboks in their opening match of the competition in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in the championship match.

From that point, the New Zealand's winning percentage has declined to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of last year, have achieved victory at a rate (eighty-three percent) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

During the same period, the 'Boks have won the majority of the seven meetings between the sides, featuring triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their current regional title, the Springboks delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks thanks to dominant performance in their home ground, a outcome which has sparked another wave of discussion about the progress of the squad under their leader.

Possibly most concerning for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, South Africa's triumph has come with an attacking verve more typically linked with their own side.

Team Identity

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the height of their powers a decade past, they were a clinical transition team equipped of dismantling rivals from every section of the field and at all times of the match.

Now, their playing philosophy is less defined as their leader, who has given numerous first caps during his two years in command, tries to primarily create the fundamental foundations of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager in charge of offense, Jason Holland, will exit the team after the upcoming matches, becoming the second member of Robertson's ticket to leave after previous staff member left last year after just a handful of games.

Team Development

It was not only Robertson's success, but his style, that was expected to translate from previous club when he began his tenure after the global competition but, so far, both remain a ongoing development.

Business Factors

After investment group investors acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the subsequent announcement spoke of the "search of international expansion" for the brand.

That objective has perhaps been harder by the lack of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers remain well-known figures in the sport, but the distribution of key individuals has become more diverse. Their leader is the only New Zealand player to receive global recognition in the past six seasons, in comparison to 10 in 13 years between the mid-2000s.

Worldwide Reach

Instead, attempts have been undertaken to establish the All Blacks into new territories.

The first leg of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland achieved a historic win in the match nine years ago.

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