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Pursuing what would be just a fifth tour victory in their legendary past, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Games against the Irish team, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the next four weekends but, in addition to the possibility to join the sides of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a measure to evaluate the development of the squad under a manager now 24 months into from assuming control.

Team Issues

Doubts over a shortage of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over player choices and departures from the coaching ticket have all added to the feeling that the best-known side in the rugby is now one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the dip in performances from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has led some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the period of All Black exceptionalism.

Past Performance

Ahead of their departure for the European tour, it was confirmed that next year, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will meet South Africa in a off-season matches dubbed 'a tour like no other'.

In the past the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has currently outperformed of what marketers have labeled 'The Premier Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have claimed a pair of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the home nations team to be considered as the team of their era.

The All Blacks have maintained to beat the Irish team when it matters most, overcoming their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, been defeated in just a pair of the recent encounters with England, have defeated Wales in each game since the sixties and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

But the diminishment of their standing as the game's gold standard will remain frustrating.

Whereas the New Zealand team dominated through the 2010s - winning 87% of their Test matches, as well as lifting the global trophy on several instances - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be seen as when the hierarchical structure shifted in the world sport.

New Zealand beat the Springboks in their opening match of the championship in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

Since then, the New Zealand's victory ratio has dropped to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, commencing of last year, have won at a frequency (83%) to match even the last great New Zealand team.

Recent Encounters

Over the comparable duration, the Springboks have won the majority of the seven meetings between the teams, comprising triumph in the recent championship match.

During their pursuit of their most recent regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks courtesy of overwhelming display in the capital, a outcome which has sparked another series of debate regarding the direction of the team under Robertson.

Perhaps most concerning for followers of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their traditional strength, the Springboks' triumph has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their opposition team.

Playing Philosophy

When the New Zealand team were at the peak of their powers a decade past, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of dismantling rivals from every section of the pitch and at all times of the contest.

Today, their offensive approach is less defined as Robertson, who has handed out 19 debuts during his 24 months in charge, tries to first establish the fundamental building blocks of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the backroom staff member overseeing offense, their offensive coordinator, will depart his position after the upcoming matches, becoming the additional person of Robertson's ticket to leave after another coach left last year after just a handful of games.

Team Development

It was not only Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was anticipated to carry over from Crusaders when he took over after the recent tournament but, so far, the two aspects remain a continuous improvement.

Business Factors

After private equity firm the company invested capital in All Blacks in the past, the following communication spoke of the "pursuit of international expansion" for the brand.

That objective has possibly been harder by the lack of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers remain well-known figures in the rugby, but the spread of stars has never been spread wider. Savea is the single New Zealand player to earn global recognition in the past six seasons, in comparison to ten awards in 13 years between previous generations.

Worldwide Reach

Rather, attempts have been implemented to establish the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The initial stage of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but the American city, a return to the location where the Irish team obtained a historic win in the contest in previous seasons.

After the reduction of health protocols, the All Blacks have also