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Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an interesting juncture.

Fixtures against the Irish team, Scotland, the English squad and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, beyond the chance to join the sides of previous successful tours in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a measure to evaluate the improvement of the team under a manager now well established from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Questions over a lack of an identifiable style, continuing controversies over team picks and exits from the backroom staff have all added to the feeling that the best-known side in the game is presently one in a period of transition.

Most importantly, it is the decline in performances from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has caused some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the period of New Zealand dominance.

Recent History

Prior to their travel for the fall series, it was revealed that next year, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a warm-weather tour called 'an unprecedented series'.

Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what marketers have described 'The Premier Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the South African team have secured a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be viewed as the squad of their era.

New Zealand have continued to defeat the Irish team when it matters most, beating their next challengers in the global competition of recent years. They have, meanwhile, lost just a couple of the recent encounters with England, have beaten Wales in each game since over sixty years ago and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Shifting Balance

But the loss of their standing as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

Although the All Blacks reigned supreme through the last ten years - achieving eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as lifting the World Cup on two occasions - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power changed in the world sport.

The All Blacks overcame the Springboks in their first game of the competition in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were eventually successful in Yokohama.

After that event, the All Blacks' victory ratio has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, from the beginning of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Head-to-Head

Over the comparable duration, the South African team have won five of the seven meetings between the sides, comprising success in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their latest regional title, South Africa delivered a historic loss on the New Zealand team courtesy of dominant performance in the capital, a outcome which has triggered another round of debate about the development of the team under the coach.

Maybe most troubling for followers of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their characteristic physicality, South Africa's success has come with an offensive flair more typically linked with their own side.

Playing Philosophy

When the All Blacks were at the height of their powers in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of shredding opponents from all areas of the pitch and at any point of the game.

Now, their offensive approach is unclear as the coach, who has handed out numerous first caps during his two years in control, tries to primarily create the fundamental core elements of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the assistant coach in charge of offense, the current coach, will leave his role after the upcoming matches, making him the next individual of Robertson's ticket to leave after another coach walked away last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not just his winning record, but his approach, that was predicted to translate from previous club when he took over after the recent tournament but, so far, the two aspects continue to be a continuous improvement.

Organizational Strategy

After private equity firm the company invested capital in New Zealand rugby in the past, the following communication spoke of the "search of worldwide growth" for the team.

That objective has perhaps been harder by the lack of a crossover star. Their key player and the collection of Barrett brothers are still household names in the rugby, but the distribution of talented players has never been spread wider. Savea is the only All Black to receive World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in contrast to ten awards in multiple seasons between 2005 and '07.

Global Expansion

Rather, attempts have been made to introduce the All Blacks into new territories.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to Dublin but Chicago, a return to the location where the Irish team secured a first ever victory in the contest in previous seasons.

Since the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have also