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Aiming for what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their legendary past, the New Zealand side have headed north at an interesting juncture.

Games against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await the All Blacks across the coming month but, beyond the chance to join the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the games will be used as a yardstick to measure the improvement of the squad under a head coach now 24 months into from beginning his tenure.

Current Challenges

Questions over a shortage of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over selection and leavings from the coaching ticket have all fueled the feeling that the most recognisable team in the game is now one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the dip in results from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has led some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the era of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Prior to their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was announced that next year, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will face the Springboks in a off-season matches termed 'a unique competition'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has lately dominated of what organizers have labeled 'The Premier Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have claimed a pair of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the team of their era.

New Zealand have persisted to defeat the Irish team when it is crucial, overcoming their next challengers in the global competition of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a pair of the past 21 meetings with England, have overcome the Welsh side in each game since 1963 and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

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

Whereas the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the last ten years - winning eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as claiming the World Cup on several instances - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the hierarchical structure moved in the international rugby.

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

From that point, the All Blacks' victory ratio has declined to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost ten of their following games but, from the beginning of last year, have won at a rate (83%) to compete with even the previous All Blacks side.

Recent Encounters

Over the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have won the majority of the seven meetings between the sides, including triumph in the recent championship match.

While securing their most recent southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a significant beating on the New Zealand team thanks to overwhelming display in their home ground, a result which has ignited another series of controversy regarding the direction of the squad under Robertson.

Perhaps most concerning for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, South Africa's success has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their traditional rivals.

Playing Philosophy

When the New Zealand team were at the peak of their powers a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of destroying opponents from all areas of the playing surface and at any point of the match.

Today, their offensive approach is unclear as the coach, who has awarded multiple new players during his recent tenure in control, tries to first establish the fundamental foundations of a winning team.

It has recently revealed that the backroom staff member in charge of offense, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the fall series, making him the second member of management team to exit after previous staff member walked away last year after just five Tests.

Performance Gap

It was not only previous achievements, but his approach, that was anticipated to carry over from his former team when he began his tenure after the global competition but, to date, each continue to be a continuous improvement.

Organizational Strategy

Following financial organization investors bought a stake in All Blacks in the past, the subsequent announcement spoke of the "quest of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That objective has maybe been more difficult by the lack of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers are still well-known figures in the game, but the spread of stars has never been spread wider. The captain is the single All Black to win international honors in the recent years, in opposition to ten awards in multiple seasons between previous generations.

International Growth

Alternatively, attempts have been made to transplant the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The first leg of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the stadium where Ireland secured a historic win in the fixture during past tours.

After the easing of health protocols, the All Blacks have additionally