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

Matches against the Irish team, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, quite aside from the opportunity to join the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the matches will be used as a yardstick to assess the improvement of the team under a manager now 24 months into from beginning his tenure.

Present Difficulties

Concerns over a absence of an identifiable style, enduring debates over player choices and departures from the backroom staff have all added to the sense that the most recognisable team in the game is now one in a state of flux.

Most significantly, it is the decline in outcomes from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has led some to theorize that we have moved out of the era of New Zealand dominance.

Recent History

Ahead of their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was announced that next year, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will meet South Africa in a summer series dubbed 'a unique competition'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is little doubt over who has currently outperformed of what organizers have described 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have won a two of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be regarded as the team of their generation.

New Zealand have persisted to defeat the Irish team when it counts most, beating this weekend's rivals in the global competition of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, lost just a pair of the recent encounters with the English team, have beaten Wales in all matches since the sixties and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.

Shifting Balance

But the loss of their status as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.

Whereas the New Zealand team dominated through the 2010s - achieving 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the competitive landscape shifted in the world sport.

New Zealand overcame South Africa in their initial fixture of the competition in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in the championship match.

After that event, the All Blacks' winning percentage has fallen to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of 2023, have won at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.

Recent Encounters

Throughout the same period, the South African team have secured victory in the majority of the past fixtures between the opponents, comprising victory in the 2023 World Cup final.

While securing their most recent southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team courtesy of dominant performance in the capital, a result which has ignited another series of discussion regarding the development of the side under Robertson.

Perhaps most jarring for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' triumph has come with an attacking verve more typically linked with their own side.

Style Evolution

At the time that the All Blacks were at the height of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of destroying competitors from every section of the playing surface and at all times of the game.

Now, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has awarded 19 debuts during his 24 months in control, tries to primarily create the fundamental foundations of a successful side.

It has recently revealed that the assistant coach in charge of offense, Jason Holland, will exit the team after the autumn tour, making him the next individual of the coaching staff to leave after previous staff member left last year after just five Tests.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not just his winning record, but his style, that was predicted to translate from his former team when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, so far, the two aspects continue to be a work in progress.

Commercial Considerations

Following investment group the company bought a stake in All Blacks in recent years, the ensuing statement discussed the "pursuit of international expansion" for the organization.

That task has perhaps been harder by the lack of a crossover star. The current captain and the trio of related players are still household names in the game, but the concentration of talented players has never been spread wider. Their leader is the sole New Zealand player to receive global recognition in the recent years, in contrast to ten awards in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Instead, attempts have been made to transplant the All Blacks into new territories.

The opening phase of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a return to the stadium where the Irish team achieved a first ever victory in the fixture in previous seasons.

Following the relaxation of health protocols, the New Zealand team have also