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Pursuing what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the All Blacks have headed north at an crucial period.

Games against the Irish team, Scotland, the English squad and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the upcoming weeks but, quite aside from the possibility to match the squads 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 head coach now two years on from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a shortage of an distinctive approach, ongoing discussions over player choices and departures from the backroom staff have all contributed to the perception that the best-known side in the rugby is currently one in a period of transition.

Most importantly, it is the dip in results from a past excellence set between the World Cups of the last decade that has caused some to speculate that we have moved out of the age of All Black exceptionalism.

Past Performance

Prior to their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that next year, in the non-existence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will meet the Springboks in a off-season matches termed 'a unique competition'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is little doubt over who has lately dominated of what marketers have described 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

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

New Zealand have maintained to beat the Irish team when it matters most, overcoming Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, at the same time, lost just two of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have beaten Wales in all matches since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

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

While the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the last ten years - achieving eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on several instances - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be seen as when the hierarchical structure changed in the world sport.

The All Blacks beat the Springboks in their opening match of the competition in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in the final.

From that point, the All Blacks' success rate has declined to 71%. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of last year, have won at a rate (eighty-three percent) to compete with even the last great New Zealand team.

Recent Encounters

Throughout the comparable duration, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the past fixtures between the sides, featuring victory in the recent championship match.

In claiming their most recent southern hemisphere crown, South Africa delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team courtesy of dominant performance in the capital, a result which has ignited another wave of discussion about the development of the team under the coach.

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

Team Identity

When the All Blacks were at the height of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of dismantling opponents from any part of the playing surface and at any moment of the game.

Now, their offensive approach is less defined as Robertson, who has awarded 19 debuts during his 24 months in charge, tries to initially build the more prosaic foundations of a competitive squad.

It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager responsible for attack, the current coach, will exit the team after the fall series, becoming the additional person of Robertson's ticket to depart after Leon MacDonald departed last year after just five Tests.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not merely his winning record, but his methodology, that was anticipated to carry over from his former team when he took over after the recent tournament but, as yet, the two aspects continue to be a work in progress.

Commercial Considerations

When financial organization investors invested capital in All Blacks in 2022, the ensuing statement mentioned the "search of international expansion" for the organization.

That objective has possibly been harder by the absence of a international celebrity. The current captain and the trio of related players are still recognizable personalities in the sport, but the spread of key individuals has expanded significantly. The captain is the sole All Black to receive global recognition in the current era, in opposition to 10 in over a decade between previous generations.

International Growth

Alternatively, efforts have been made to establish the New Zealand team into new territories.

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team secured a first ever victory in the contest nine years ago.

Following the reduction of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have also