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Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the All Blacks have headed north at an crucial period.

Games against the Irish team, Scotland, England and Wales await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, beyond the chance to match the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the matches will be used as a yardstick to evaluate the progress of the team under a leader now well established from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a shortage of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over team picks and exits from the management team have all fueled the sense that the best-known side in the sport is presently one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the dip in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to speculate that we have transitioned away of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Prior to their departure for the fall series, it was revealed that during the following season, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will meet the Springboks in a off-season matches called 'an unprecedented series'.

In the past the sport's top competitors, there is no question over who has currently outperformed of what organizers have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have claimed a pair of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the home nations team to be considered as the side of their generation.

The All Blacks have continued to beat Ireland when it matters most, beating their next challengers in the global competition of recent years. They have, additionally, lost just a couple of the last fixtures with England, have beaten Wales in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the loss of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.

Although the All Blacks excelled through the 2010s - securing eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as claiming the global trophy on several instances - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the competitive landscape shifted in the international rugby.

New Zealand overcame the Springboks in their initial fixture of the tournament in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in the final.

From that point, the New Zealand's success rate has fallen to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their following games but, since the start of 2023, have won at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to rival even the last great New Zealand team.

Direct Competition

Throughout the same period, the Springboks have won five of the seven meetings between the teams, featuring victory in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their most recent continental championship, South Africa administered a significant beating on the New Zealand team thanks to overwhelming display in the capital, a score which has sparked another series of debate concerning the development of the side under their leader.

Maybe most troubling for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their usual power, South Africa's triumph has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their opposition team.

Playing Philosophy

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their capabilities a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine able of dismantling rivals from any part of the pitch and at all times of the match.

Today, their offensive approach is unclear as Robertson, who has awarded multiple new players during his recent tenure in charge, tries to first establish the basic foundations of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the backroom staff member in charge of offense, Jason Holland, will depart his position after the upcoming matches, making him the additional person of Robertson's ticket to leave after another coach walked away last year after just limited matches.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not just previous achievements, but his style, that was predicted to carry over from his former team when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, each are still a continuous improvement.

Commercial Considerations

When investment group investors invested capital in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the ensuing statement spoke of the "pursuit of international expansion" for the brand.

That objective has possibly been more difficult by the absence of a international celebrity. Their key player and the group of family members continue to be recognizable personalities in the sport, but the distribution of stars has become more diverse. The captain is the only New Zealand player to receive World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in contrast to 10 in 13 years between the mid-2000s.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, efforts have been implemented to transplant the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

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

Following the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have also