Can the All Blacks find their winning form this autumn?
Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the All Blacks have embarked on their tour at an pivotal moment.
Matches against the Irish team, Scotland, the English squad and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the next four weekends but, beyond the opportunity to join the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the games will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the development of the side under a leader now two years on from assuming control.
Current Challenges
Concerns over a lack of an distinctive approach, ongoing discussions over selection and leavings from the backroom staff have all added to the perception that the best-known side in the sport is now one in a time of change.
Most significantly, it is the dip in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of the last decade that has caused some to suggest that we have moved out of the period of Kiwi superiority.
Team Record
Prior to their departure for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that in the coming year, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will play South Africa in a off-season matches termed 'a unique competition'.
Historically the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has currently outperformed of what organizers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.
During the last decade, the Springboks have claimed a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the home nations team to be viewed as the side of their generation.
New Zealand have continued to overcome the Irish team when it counts most, defeating Saturday's opponents in the tournament knockout stages of recent years. They have, additionally, lost just a pair of the last fixtures with England, have defeated Wales in each game since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.
Changing Dynamics
But the decline of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.
Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the last ten years - securing eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on several instances - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the competitive landscape shifted in the global game.
New Zealand beat the Springboks in their opening match of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were eventually successful in the championship match.
From that point, the All Blacks' winning percentage has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of last year, have won at a rate (83%) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.
Direct Competition
During the same period, the 'Boks have won the majority of the seven meetings between the opponents, featuring victory in the latest global tournament decider.
In claiming their most recent regional title, South Africa inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks courtesy of overwhelming display in the capital, a outcome which has ignited another round of discussion concerning the progress of the squad under Robertson.
Perhaps most troubling for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their usual power, the Springboks' success has come with an offensive flair more commonly connected with their own side.
Team Identity
When the New Zealand team were at the height of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a clinical transition team equipped of dismantling opponents from every section of the field and at any moment of the game.
Today, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has handed out 19 debuts during his recent tenure in charge, tries to first establish the fundamental foundations of a competitive squad.
It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member in charge of scoring, the current coach, will exit the team after the upcoming matches, becoming the second member of management team to exit after another coach walked away last year after just five Tests.
Performance Gap
It was not merely Robertson's success, but his approach, that was expected to carry over from Crusaders when he took over after the recent tournament but, to date, each remain a work in progress.
Organizational Strategy
When financial organization the company bought a stake in All Blacks in recent years, the following communication mentioned the "quest of international expansion" for the team.
That task has maybe been more difficult by the absence of a global icon. Their key player and the collection of related players continue to be recognizable personalities in the rugby, but the distribution of talented players has expanded significantly. Savea is the only All Black to earn international honors in the recent years, in comparison to 10 in multiple seasons between the mid-2000s.
International Growth
Instead, efforts have been made to transplant the All Blacks into emerging regions.
The first leg of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to Dublin but the American city, a comeback to the stadium where Ireland secured a first ever victory in the contest during past tours.
Following the relaxation of health protocols, the All Blacks have additionally
