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Aiming for what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.

Matches against Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the chance to match the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the games will be used as a yardstick to measure the development of the squad under a head coach now well established from beginning his tenure.

Team Issues

Concerns over a lack of an distinctive approach, enduring debates over selection and exits from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the sense that the most recognisable team in the sport is now one in a period of transition.

Most importantly, it is the drop in performances from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has led some to theorize that we have moved out of the era of All Black exceptionalism.

Past Performance

Prior to their travel for the northern hemisphere, it was announced that during the following season, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in a summer series called 'an unprecedented series'.

Historically the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has currently outperformed of what promoters have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have won a couple of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the home nations team to be considered as the side of their period.

New Zealand have maintained to overcome the Irish team when it counts most, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, additionally, lost just two of the past 21 meetings with England, have overcome Wales in each game since over sixty years ago and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

But the diminishment of their status as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.

Whereas the All Blacks excelled through the previous decade - winning 87% of their Test matches, as well as lifting the global trophy on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the hierarchical structure moved in the international rugby.

The All Blacks overcame the Springboks in their opening match of the championship in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in the championship match.

After that event, the New Zealand's success rate has fallen to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, from the beginning of last year, have achieved victory at a rate (eighty-three percent) to compete with even the last great New Zealand team.

Recent Encounters

Throughout the same period, the 'Boks have won the majority of the recent encounters between the opponents, including victory in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their current regional title, the Springboks administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in the capital, a outcome which has sparked another round of controversy regarding the progress of the team under Robertson.

Perhaps most troubling for fans of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their usual power, the Springboks' triumph has come with an offensive flair more commonly connected with their own side.

Playing Philosophy

At the time that the All Blacks were at the zenith of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine able of shredding rivals from all areas of the field and at any moment of the game.

Today, their offensive approach is unclear as the coach, who has handed out numerous first caps during his recent tenure in control, tries to initially build the fundamental foundations of a winning team.

It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager overseeing attack, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the upcoming matches, becoming the next individual of Robertson's ticket to depart after another coach walked away last year after just limited matches.

Performance Gap

It was not just his winning record, but his approach, that was expected to carry over from his former team when he took over after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, both continue to be a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

Following investment group Silver Lake acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the subsequent announcement mentioned the "quest of new global opportunities" for the organization.

That objective has possibly been harder by the lack of a global icon. The current captain and the collection of family members continue to be well-known figures in the game, but the spread of key individuals has never been spread wider. Savea is the sole New Zealand player to receive international honors in the past six seasons, in contrast to 10 in over a decade between previous generations.

Worldwide Reach

Instead, efforts have been implemented to establish the New Zealand team into new territories.

The opening phase of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the stadium where the Irish team secured a first ever victory in the match during past tours.

Since the reduction of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have additionally