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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 interesting juncture.

Matches against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, quite aside from the opportunity to match the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the matches will be used as a yardstick to measure the improvement of the squad under a manager now 24 months into from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Questions over a absence of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over player choices and leavings from the backroom staff have all contributed to the perception that the best-known side in the game is currently one in a state of flux.

Most importantly, it is the decline in performances from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to speculate that we have moved out of the period of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Prior to their journey for the European tour, it was announced that during the following season, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a summer series called 'an unprecedented series'.

In the past the rugby's premier teams, there is clear agreement over who has lately dominated of what marketers have described 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have claimed a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be regarded as the squad of their period.

The All Blacks have persisted to defeat Ireland when it counts most, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the global competition of 2019 and '23. They have, at the same time, lost just a couple of the recent encounters with England, have defeated Wales in each game since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

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

Whereas the All Blacks reigned supreme through the previous decade - securing eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as claiming the Webb Ellis on several instances - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the balance of power shifted in the world sport.

The All Blacks defeated South Africa in their first game of the tournament in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were eventually successful in the championship match.

From that point, the New Zealand's success rate has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their following games but, since the start of last year, have won at a percentage (83%) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

During the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have won five of the recent encounters between the teams, comprising triumph in the recent championship match.

While securing their current continental championship, the Springboks administered a historic loss on the New Zealand team through 36 unanswered second-half points in Wellington, a result which has sparked another round of discussion concerning the development of the team under their leader.

Perhaps most troubling for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' triumph has come with an creative approach more commonly connected with their own side.

Style Evolution

When the New Zealand team were at the height of their powers a decade past, they were a clinical transition team equipped of shredding rivals from every section of the field and at any moment of the contest.

Now, their playing philosophy is unclear as Robertson, who has given 19 debuts during his 24 months in control, tries to initially build the basic core elements of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the backroom staff member overseeing attack, their offensive coordinator, will leave his role after the fall series, becoming the second member of the coaching staff to leave after previous staff member departed last year after just limited matches.

Performance Gap

It was not only previous achievements, but his approach, that was anticipated to carry over from Crusaders when he took over after the global competition but, to date, both remain a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

Following private equity firm Silver Lake bought a stake in All Blacks in 2022, the following communication spoke of the "pursuit of international expansion" for the organization.

That objective has possibly been harder by the absence of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the group of Barrett brothers remain household names in the rugby, but the concentration of stars has never been spread wider. Their leader is the single All Black to earn global recognition in the past six seasons, in opposition to ten awards in over a decade between previous generations.

International Growth

Rather, attempts have been undertaken to establish the New Zealand team into new territories.

The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a return to the location where the Irish team achieved a historic win in the contest during past tours.

After the relaxation of health protocols, the New Zealand team have additionally