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Aiming for what would be just a fifth tour victory in their storied history, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an interesting juncture.

Matches against Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, beyond the opportunity to equal the squads of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the games will be used as a benchmark to assess the development of the squad under a leader now two years on from beginning his tenure.

Current Challenges

Doubts over a lack of an identifiable style, enduring debates over player choices and leavings from the management team have all added to the sense that the most famous squad in the sport is now one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the drop in outcomes from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has led some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the period of New Zealand dominance.

Recent History

Ahead of their departure for the European tour, it was confirmed that during the following season, in the non-existence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will face the Springboks in a off-season matches called 'a unique competition'.

Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is clear agreement over who has currently outperformed of what organizers have called 'The Premier Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have secured a couple of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be considered as the team of their generation.

The All Blacks have maintained to beat Ireland when it counts most, defeating this weekend's rivals in the World Cup quarter finals of 2019 and '23. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just two of the last fixtures with the English team, have overcome Wales in each game since 1963 and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the loss of their status as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.

While the New Zealand team dominated through the last ten years - winning 87% of their fixtures, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the hierarchical structure shifted in the global game.

New Zealand beat South Africa in their initial fixture of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the championship match.

From that point, the New Zealand's victory ratio has dropped to 71%. South Africa themselves lost ten 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 former Kiwi champions.

Recent Encounters

During the comparable duration, the 'Boks have secured victory in five of the seven meetings between the opponents, comprising triumph in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their latest continental championship, South Africa delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team through overwhelming display in the capital, a result which has triggered another wave of controversy regarding the direction of the squad under the coach.

Possibly most concerning for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their traditional strength, South Africa's achievement has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their own side.

Style Evolution

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a clinical transition team capable of shredding rivals from every section of the field and at any point of the game.

Now, their offensive approach is less defined as the coach, who has given 19 debuts during his 24 months in control, tries to primarily create the basic foundations of a winning team.

It has previously announced that the backroom staff member overseeing attack, their offensive coordinator, will leave his role after the fall series, making him the additional person of the coaching staff to depart after another coach departed last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not only previous achievements, but his style, that was expected to translate from Crusaders when he assumed control after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, each remain a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

When private equity firm the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the subsequent announcement mentioned the "quest of new global opportunities" for the organization.

That objective has possibly been more challenging by the shortage of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the group of family members remain household names in the rugby, but the spread of key individuals has never been spread wider. Their leader is the single All Black to earn global recognition in the recent years, in contrast to 10 in multiple seasons between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Instead, efforts have been implemented to introduce the All Blacks into new territories.

The initial stage of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to Dublin but Chicago, a revisit to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland achieved a historic win in the contest nine years ago.

Since the easing of health protocols, the All Blacks have also