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Pursuing what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an pivotal moment.

Matches against the Irish team, the Scottish side, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, beyond the chance to join the squads of previous successful tours in the record books, the matches will be used as a yardstick to assess the development of the team under a manager now 24 months into from assuming control.

Team Issues

Doubts over a absence of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over team picks and exits from the management team have all contributed to the perception that the best-known side in the sport is currently one in a state of flux.

Most pertinently, it is the dip in outcomes from a past excellence set between the World Cups of the last decade that has prompted some to suggest that we have evolved beyond of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Before their journey for the fall series, it was revealed that in the coming year, in the non-existence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will meet South Africa in a warm-weather tour termed 'a unique competition'.

In the past the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what promoters have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have won a pair of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be regarded as the side of their generation.

The All Blacks have continued to defeat Ireland when it matters most, defeating Saturday's opponents in the tournament knockout stages of recent years. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just two of the recent encounters with the English team, have defeated Wales in each game since the sixties and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

But the decline of their position as the game's gold standard will continue to rankle.

Although the All Blacks dominated through the 2010s - achieving eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as winning the World Cup on several instances - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be seen as when the balance of power changed in the international rugby.

New Zealand overcame South Africa in their first game of the competition in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in the championship match.

From that point, the All Blacks' victory ratio has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves lost ten of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of 2023, have won at a rate (83%) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

During the comparable duration, the Springboks have secured victory in the majority of the seven meetings between the sides, including success in the recent championship match.

While securing their current regional title, South Africa delivered a significant beating on the New Zealand team through overwhelming display in their home ground, a score which has sparked another round of discussion regarding the progress of the team under their leader.

Maybe most troubling for followers of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, South Africa's achievement has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their opposition team.

Style Evolution

When the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their capabilities a decade past, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of shredding rivals from any part of the pitch and at any moment of the contest.

Today, their playing philosophy is less defined as their leader, who has given 19 debuts during his 24 months in command, tries to initially build the fundamental building blocks of a winning team.

It has previously announced that the assistant coach in charge of offense, their offensive coordinator, will exit the team after the autumn tour, becoming the second member of Robertson's ticket to leave after another coach left last year after just limited matches.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not only his winning record, but his methodology, that was predicted to translate from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, each continue to be a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

After investment group investors bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the ensuing statement spoke of the "search of international expansion" for the brand.

That task has maybe been more difficult by the absence of a international celebrity. The current captain and the collection of related players are still household names in the sport, but the spread of key individuals has become more diverse. The captain is the single New Zealand player to win World Player of the Year in the recent years, in contrast to ten awards in over a decade between the mid-2000s.

Global Expansion

Instead, efforts have been implemented to transplant the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team achieved a historic win in the match in previous seasons.

After the reduction of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the New Zealand team have furthermore