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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.

Matches against Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the chance to match the sides of previous successful tours in the record books, the matches will be used as a yardstick to evaluate the improvement of the squad under a leader now 24 months into from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a absence of an clear playing identity, enduring debates over selection and leavings from the management team have all fueled the sense that the best-known side in the rugby is now one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the decline in results from a past excellence set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has prompted some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the age of All Black exceptionalism.

Team Record

Before their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that in the coming year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will face South Africa in a summer series called 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what marketers have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have secured a pair of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the British and Irish Lions to be viewed as the squad of their generation.

New Zealand have continued to defeat Ireland when it is crucial, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the global competition of recent years. They have, at the same time, lost just a pair of the past 21 meetings with England, have beaten the Welsh side in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

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

Whereas the New Zealand team excelled through the previous decade - securing 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the World Cup on several instances - the global tournament of 2019 can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape changed in the international rugby.

The All Blacks overcame the Springboks in their opening match of the championship in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in the final.

After that event, the All Blacks' winning percentage has declined to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a frequency (83%) to match even the former Kiwi champions.

Head-to-Head

Throughout the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the past fixtures between the sides, comprising triumph in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their latest continental championship, the Springboks delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks thanks to dominant performance in their home ground, a outcome which has triggered another round of debate concerning the progress of the team under Robertson.

Possibly most concerning for followers of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' achievement has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their traditional rivals.

Team Identity

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their powers in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit capable of shredding competitors from every section of the field and at any point of the game.

Now, their offensive approach is unclear as their leader, who has handed out numerous first caps during his two years in command, tries to primarily create the basic building blocks of a winning team.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager in charge of attack, the current coach, will depart his position after the autumn tour, making him the next individual of the coaching staff to exit after previous staff member walked away last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not merely previous achievements, but his methodology, that was anticipated to transfer from Crusaders when he assumed control after the 2023 World Cup but, as yet, both remain a ongoing development.

Business Factors

After investment group the company bought a stake in All Blacks in 2022, the ensuing statement discussed the "pursuit of worldwide growth" for the team.

That objective has possibly been harder by the shortage of a global icon. Their key player and the trio of related players are still recognizable personalities in the rugby, but the distribution of talented players has become more diverse. Savea is the sole New Zealand player to win international honors in the current era, in contrast to ten awards in over a decade between previous generations.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, attempts have been undertaken to transplant the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the location where the Irish team secured a historic win in the fixture in previous seasons.

Since the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the New Zealand team have additionally