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Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their legendary past, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an interesting juncture.

Games against the Irish team, the Scottish side, England and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the upcoming weeks but, quite aside from the chance to match the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the games will be used as a measure to assess the development of the side under a head coach now well established from taking up the reins.

Team Issues

Concerns over a lack of an distinctive approach, ongoing discussions over player choices and leavings from the coaching ticket have all fueled the perception that the most recognisable team in the sport is now one in a state of flux.

Most significantly, it is the decline in performances from a previous peak set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has prompted some to suggest that we have evolved beyond of the era of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Before their travel for the European tour, it was revealed that in the coming year, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will meet South Africa in a summer series called 'an unprecedented series'.

In the past the sport's top competitors, there is little doubt over who has currently outperformed of what promoters have labeled 'The Premier Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the South African team have claimed a two of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the home nations team to be regarded as the squad of their generation.

New Zealand have persisted to overcome the Irish team when it matters most, defeating Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, been defeated in 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 always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

But the decline of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

Whereas the All Blacks dominated through the last ten years - securing 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the balance of power changed in the world sport.

New Zealand defeated the Springboks in their opening match of the championship in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the final.

After that event, the New Zealand's winning percentage has declined to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their following games but, commencing of 2023, have achieved victory at a rate (eighty-three percent) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

Throughout the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have secured victory in the majority of the recent encounters between the teams, including success in the recent championship match.

During their pursuit of their current continental championship, the Springboks inflicted a historic loss on the All Blacks courtesy of 36 unanswered second-half points in their home ground, a outcome which has sparked another wave of controversy concerning the progress of the side under Robertson.

Possibly most troubling for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' achievement has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their traditional rivals.

Style Evolution

At the time that the All Blacks were at the zenith of their abilities in previous eras, they were a clinical transition team able of shredding rivals from all areas of the pitch and at any point of the contest.

Now, their offensive approach is less defined as Robertson, who has handed out 19 debuts during his two years in control, tries to initially build the basic foundations of a competitive squad.

It has previously announced that the supporting manager in charge of scoring, their offensive coordinator, will depart his position after the autumn tour, becoming the second member of Robertson's ticket to leave after another coach departed last year after just a handful of games.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not only Robertson's success, but his approach, that was anticipated to transfer from Crusaders when he assumed control after the global competition but, so far, both remain a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

When private equity firm investors bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in the past, the following communication spoke of the "search of worldwide growth" for the brand.

That objective has possibly been more challenging by the absence of a international celebrity. Their key player and the trio of family members remain well-known figures in the rugby, but the concentration of key individuals has expanded significantly. Their leader is the only All Black to receive global recognition in the past six seasons, in contrast to ten awards in multiple seasons between 2005 and '07.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, initiatives have been made to establish the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.

The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a return to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team secured a historic win in the match during past tours.

Since the easing of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have also