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Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their legendary past, the New Zealand side have headed north at an pivotal moment.

Games against the Irish team, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the coming month but, beyond the opportunity to join the sides of previous successful tours in the record books, the games will be used as a yardstick to evaluate the development of the team under a head coach now well established from taking up the reins.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a absence of an distinctive approach, ongoing discussions over player choices and exits from the coaching ticket have all added to the perception that the most famous squad in the sport is presently one in a state of flux.

Most significantly, it is the drop in results from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has caused some to speculate that we have moved out of the period of All Black exceptionalism.

Recent History

Before their departure for the northern hemisphere, it was announced that in the coming year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in a summer series termed 'an unprecedented series'.

Historically the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has lately dominated of what promoters have described 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have secured a couple of World Cups, 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 overcome the Irish team when it counts most, beating their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, at the same time, lost just a pair of the last fixtures with England, have beaten Wales in all matches since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the decline of their standing as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.

Although the New Zealand team excelled through the previous decade - winning eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as claiming the World Cup on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be seen as when the hierarchical structure changed in the world sport.

The All Blacks overcame the Springboks in their initial fixture of the tournament in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the final.

From that point, the All Blacks' victory ratio has fallen to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

Over the same period, the 'Boks have secured victory in the majority of the recent encounters between the opponents, including triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their current regional title, the Springboks delivered a historic loss on the All Blacks courtesy of overwhelming display in their home ground, a score which has triggered another round of controversy regarding the progress of the side under Robertson.

Perhaps most troubling for followers of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their usual power, South Africa's success has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their traditional rivals.

Style Evolution

When the All Blacks were at the height of their powers 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit equipped of dismantling opponents from all areas of the pitch and at any moment of the contest.

Currently, their playing philosophy is unclear as the coach, who has given numerous first caps during his recent tenure in control, tries to first establish the basic foundations of a winning team.

It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member in charge of scoring, the current coach, will leave his role after the upcoming matches, becoming the next individual of Robertson's ticket to exit after previous staff member departed last year after just five Tests.

Performance Gap

It was not merely previous achievements, but his approach, that was predicted to translate from his former team when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, as yet, the two aspects continue to be a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

When financial organization the company acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in the past, the ensuing statement mentioned the "quest of worldwide growth" for the organization.

That objective has perhaps been more difficult by the lack of a crossover star. Their key player and the collection of family members remain household names in the rugby, but the concentration of key individuals has never been spread wider. The captain is the single All Black to receive World Player of the Year in the recent years, in opposition to 10 in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Rather, attempts have been undertaken to introduce the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The initial stage of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a return to the stadium where Ireland secured a first ever victory in the match in previous seasons.

Following the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the New Zealand team have also