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Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an crucial period.

Fixtures against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the upcoming weeks but, beyond the chance to join the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the matches will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the development of the squad under a head coach now 24 months into from beginning his tenure.

Team Issues

Concerns over a lack of an identifiable style, continuing controversies over selection and departures from the coaching ticket have all fueled the sense that the best-known side in the game is presently one in a state of flux.

Most pertinently, it is the dip in outcomes from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has prompted some to speculate that we have evolved beyond of the era of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Before their travel for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that during the following season, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play South Africa in a warm-weather tour termed 'a tour like no other'.

In the past the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what marketers have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have claimed a couple of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a series against the northern hemisphere selection to be considered as the side of their era.

The All Blacks have persisted to defeat the Irish team when it counts most, defeating Saturday's opponents in the global competition of recent years. They have, meanwhile, lost just a couple of the last fixtures with the English team, have beaten Wales in each game since the sixties and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

But the loss of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.

While the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the previous decade - winning eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as lifting the global trophy on several instances - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the competitive landscape changed in the global game.

The All Blacks overcame South Africa in their initial fixture of the championship in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

After that event, the All Blacks' winning percentage has declined to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, commencing of 2023, have won at a frequency (83%) to match even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

Over the same period, the 'Boks have won five of the seven meetings between the teams, featuring success in the recent championship match.

During their pursuit of their most recent continental championship, South Africa delivered a significant beating on the New Zealand team courtesy of overwhelming display in their home ground, a score which has ignited another wave of discussion regarding the development of the squad under the coach.

Possibly most jarring for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, South Africa's triumph has come with an creative approach more usually associated with their opposition team.

Style Evolution

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a clinical transition team equipped of dismantling competitors from any part of the playing surface and at any point of the match.

Currently, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has given 19 debuts during his two years in command, tries to first establish the fundamental foundations of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager overseeing scoring, the current coach, will leave his role after the autumn tour, making him the second member of management team to depart after another coach walked away last year after just five Tests.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not merely previous achievements, but his approach, that was anticipated to carry over from previous club when he took over after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, both continue to be a work in progress.

Organizational Strategy

Following private equity firm the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in the past, the subsequent announcement spoke of the "search of worldwide growth" for the brand.

That objective has possibly been more challenging by the absence of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers remain household names in the sport, but the concentration of stars has never been spread wider. Their leader is the only New Zealand player to win global recognition in the recent years, in comparison to 10 in 13 years between the mid-2000s.

Global Expansion

Rather, efforts have been implemented to establish the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.

The initial stage of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a return to the stadium where Ireland secured a historic win in the contest nine years ago.

Since the relaxation of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have furthermore