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

Games against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and Wales await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, quite aside from the opportunity to equal the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the fixtures will be used as a yardstick to evaluate the progress of the team under a head coach now two years on from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Concerns over a absence of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over selection and leavings from the backroom staff have all contributed to the feeling that the best-known side in the game is now one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the dip in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the age of Kiwi superiority.

Recent History

Prior to their departure for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that during the following season, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a warm-weather tour termed 'a unique competition'.

Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what marketers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have secured a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the British and Irish Lions to be viewed as the side of their period.

New Zealand have continued to beat Ireland when it is crucial, defeating this weekend's rivals in the global competition of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, lost just a pair of the past 21 meetings with England, have overcome the Welsh side in all matches since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

But the decline of their status as the game's gold standard will persist as an irritation.

Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the last ten years - achieving 87% of their international games, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the competitive landscape shifted in the world sport.

New Zealand beat South Africa in their initial fixture of the tournament in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in the championship match.

From that point, the All Blacks' winning percentage has declined to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their following games but, from the beginning of last year, have achieved victory at a rate (eighty-three percent) to rival even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

Over the comparable duration, the South African team have secured victory in the majority of the past fixtures between the sides, comprising triumph in the recent championship match.

During their pursuit of their latest regional title, the Springboks delivered a significant beating on the New Zealand team through dominant performance in their home ground, a outcome which has ignited another series of controversy regarding the development of the team under Robertson.

Maybe most troubling for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, South Africa's achievement has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their traditional rivals.

Style Evolution

When the All Blacks were at the zenith of their powers a decade past, they were a clinical transition team equipped of dismantling opponents from any part of the playing surface and at any moment of the match.

Currently, their playing philosophy is less defined as Robertson, who has given multiple new players during his two years in command, tries to initially build the basic building blocks of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager in charge of offense, the current coach, will leave his role after the fall series, becoming the second member of management team to depart after another coach walked away last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not only his winning record, but his methodology, that was expected to carry over from his former team when he assumed control after the global competition but, to date, each continue to be a ongoing development.

Business Factors

Following private equity firm the company acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the ensuing statement discussed the "quest of worldwide growth" for the organization.

That objective has possibly been more challenging by the shortage of a international celebrity. Their key player and the trio of related players are still household names in the sport, but the spread of key individuals has expanded significantly. Savea is the only All Black to earn World Player of the Year in the current era, in contrast to 10 in over a decade between previous generations.

International Growth

Instead, initiatives have been undertaken to transplant the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The initial stage of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to Dublin but Chicago, a revisit to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team secured a first ever victory in the match during past tours.

After the relaxation of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have additionally