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Aiming for what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an interesting juncture.

Fixtures against the Irish team, Scotland, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the opportunity to match the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the progress of the squad under a leader now two years on from assuming control.

Team Issues

Concerns over a shortage of an distinctive approach, ongoing discussions over selection and departures from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the feeling that the most famous squad in the game is currently one in a period of transition.

Most importantly, it is the drop in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the era of New Zealand dominance.

Recent History

Ahead of their journey for the fall series, it was announced that in the coming year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will face South Africa in a summer series termed 'a unique competition'.

Traditionally the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what organizers have labeled 'The Premier Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have secured a pair of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the northern hemisphere selection to be viewed as the team of their period.

New Zealand have persisted to beat Ireland when it counts most, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the global competition of recent years. They have, meanwhile, lost just a couple of the past 21 meetings with England, have beaten the Welsh side in all matches since 1963 and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

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

Although the New Zealand team dominated through the last ten years - achieving eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as claiming the Webb Ellis on two occasions - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the competitive landscape shifted in the international rugby.

New Zealand defeated the Springboks in their first game of the championship in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.

Since then, the New Zealand's success rate has declined to 71%. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, from the beginning of 2023, have achieved victory at a frequency (83%) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.

Recent Encounters

During the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have won five of the past fixtures between the teams, comprising victory in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their latest continental championship, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a significant beating on the All Blacks courtesy of dominant performance in their home ground, a score which has ignited another round of discussion regarding the progress of the side under their leader.

Possibly most concerning for fans of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their traditional strength, the Springboks' triumph has come with an attacking verve more typically linked with their own side.

Team Identity

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the height of their capabilities a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of destroying opponents from any part of the pitch and at any moment of the contest.

Currently, their offensive approach is less defined as Robertson, who has awarded multiple new players during his two years in charge, tries to first establish the more prosaic core elements of a successful side.

It has previously announced that the backroom staff member responsible for offense, the current coach, will leave his role after the fall series, becoming the next individual of Robertson's ticket to leave after another coach departed last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not only Robertson's success, but his approach, that was expected to carry over from previous club when he took over after the global competition but, so far, both are still a continuous improvement.

Organizational Strategy

Following private equity firm the company bought a stake in All Blacks in recent years, the ensuing statement discussed the "pursuit of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That objective has maybe been more difficult by the shortage of a crossover star. The current captain and the trio of related players remain recognizable personalities in the game, but the concentration of stars has expanded significantly. Their leader is the sole New Zealand player to win World Player of the Year in the current era, in opposition to 10 in over a decade between previous generations.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, efforts have been made to transplant the New Zealand team into new territories.

The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a revisit to the stadium where the Irish team obtained a landmark success in the contest during past tours.

After the easing of health protocols, the New Zealand team have additionally