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

Games against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the possibility to join the squads of previous successful tours in the record books, the games will be used as a yardstick to measure the development of the side under a leader now two years on from beginning his tenure.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a lack of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over team picks and leavings from the backroom staff have all fueled the feeling that the best-known side in the rugby is presently one in a time of change.

Most significantly, it is the decline in results from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has prompted some to suggest that we have moved out of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Ahead of their journey for the European tour, 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 warm-weather tour termed 'a unique competition'.

In the past the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what marketers have labeled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have won a pair of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the home nations team to be considered as the side of their period.

The All Blacks have persisted to beat Ireland when it matters most, beating their next challengers in the tournament knockout stages of recent years. They have, additionally, been defeated in just a couple of the last fixtures with England, have beaten Wales in all matches since over sixty years ago and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

But the diminishment of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will persist as an irritation.

Whereas the New Zealand team excelled through the 2010s - winning 87% of their fixtures, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on several instances - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the balance of power shifted in the world sport.

New Zealand defeated South Africa in their opening match of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

From that point, the All Blacks' success rate has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves lost ten of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of 2023, have won at a percentage (83%) to match even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

Over the same period, the South African team have won five of the seven meetings between the opponents, comprising success in the latest global tournament decider.

In claiming their current continental championship, South Africa inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team through dominant performance in Wellington, a outcome which has sparked another round of debate regarding the progress of the side under Robertson.

Possibly most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their usual power, the Springboks' triumph has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their own side.

Team Identity

At the time that the All Blacks were at the peak of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit equipped of dismantling opponents from every section of the playing surface and at any point of the game.

Currently, their attacking style is less defined as Robertson, who has handed out numerous first caps during his 24 months in charge, tries to first establish the fundamental building blocks of a successful side.

It has previously announced that the supporting manager in charge of scoring, Jason Holland, will exit the team after the autumn tour, becoming the additional person of the coaching staff to exit after Leon MacDonald departed last year after just a handful of games.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not just previous achievements, but his approach, that was anticipated to carry over from previous club when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, so far, both are still a work in progress.

Business Factors

Following financial organization investors invested capital in All Blacks in the past, the ensuing statement discussed the "pursuit of international expansion" for the team.

That task has maybe been harder by the lack of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the trio of family members remain recognizable personalities in the game, but the distribution of talented players has expanded significantly. The captain is the only New Zealand player to earn World Player of the Year in the recent years, in opposition to 10 in 13 years between previous generations.

Worldwide Reach

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

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to Dublin but Chicago, a revisit to the location where the Irish team achieved a historic win in the match nine years ago.

Following the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have also