Pursuing what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the New Zealand side have headed north at an crucial period.
Matches against the Irish team, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the coming month but, quite aside from the opportunity to match the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the matches will be used as a measure to assess the development of the team under a leader now 24 months into from assuming control.
Team Issues
Concerns over a lack of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over selection and departures from the backroom staff have all contributed to the perception that the most famous squad in the sport is now one in a time of change.
Most significantly, it is the drop in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has prompted some to speculate that we have evolved beyond of the period of New Zealand dominance.
Recent History
Prior to their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that next year, in the non-existence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will play South Africa in a off-season matches termed 'an unprecedented series'.
Historically the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has lately dominated of what marketers have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.
During the last decade, the South African team have secured a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the home nations team to be considered as the team of their era.
New Zealand have continued to defeat the Irish team when it matters most, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the World Cup quarter finals of 2019 and '23. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just a couple of the last fixtures with England, have beaten Wales in each game since 1963 and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.
Evolving Landscape
But the decline of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will persist as an irritation.
Although the All Blacks reigned supreme through the last ten years - achieving 87% of their Test matches, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on several instances - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the balance of power changed in the global game.
The All Blacks beat the Springboks in their initial fixture of the championship in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in Yokohama.
From that point, the New Zealand's winning percentage has declined to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost ten of their following games but, from the beginning of 2023, have won at a percentage (83%) to compete with even the previous All Blacks side.
Recent Encounters
During the comparable duration, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the recent encounters between the teams, featuring success in the latest global tournament decider.
During their pursuit of their latest continental championship, South Africa delivered a historic loss on the New Zealand team through 36 unanswered second-half points in their home ground, a result which has ignited another wave of debate concerning the development of the side under Robertson.
Maybe most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their usual power, the Springboks' achievement has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their opposition team.
Team Identity
During the period when the All Blacks were at the height of their powers 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of destroying opponents from any part of the playing surface and at any moment of the match.
Today, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as their leader, who has handed out multiple new players during his two years in control, tries to initially build the fundamental foundations of a competitive squad.
It has recently revealed that the supporting manager responsible for scoring, their offensive coordinator, will depart his position after the upcoming matches, making him the next individual of the coaching staff to depart after Leon MacDonald departed last year after just a handful of games.
Team Development
It was not merely his winning record, but his style, that was expected to transfer from previous club when he took over after the recent tournament but, so far, the two aspects remain a work in progress.
Organizational Strategy
When financial organization Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in 2022, the ensuing statement discussed the "search of worldwide growth" for the brand.
That task has perhaps been harder by the absence of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers are still recognizable personalities in the rugby, but the spread of stars has become more diverse. Their leader is the only All Black to earn World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in opposition to 10 in over a decade between the mid-2000s.
Global Expansion
Alternatively, initiatives have been made to introduce the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.
The opening phase of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team achieved a first ever victory in the fixture in previous seasons.
After the reduction of health protocols, the All Blacks have furthermore
