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

Games against the Irish team, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the possibility to join the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the matches will be used as a benchmark to assess the improvement of the team under a head coach now 24 months into from assuming control.

Team Issues

Questions over a shortage of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over selection and exits from the management team have all contributed to the sense that the best-known side in the rugby is currently one in a period of transition.

Most importantly, it is the dip in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to theorize that we have moved out of the era of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Prior to their departure for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that next year, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a summer series termed 'an unprecedented series'.

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

During the last decade, the Springboks have secured a couple of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a series against the home nations team to be regarded as the squad of their generation.

New Zealand have maintained to defeat the Irish team when it is crucial, defeating Saturday's opponents in the global competition of 2019 and '23. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just two of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have beaten the Welsh side in all matches since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

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

Although the All Blacks excelled through the previous decade - achieving eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as claiming the global trophy on multiple times - the global tournament of 2019 can now be viewed as when the hierarchical structure changed in the international rugby.

The All Blacks defeated South Africa in their initial fixture of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.

Since then, the New Zealand's victory ratio has dropped to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their following games but, from the beginning of last year, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to match even the previous All Blacks side.

Recent Encounters

During the same period, the South African team have secured victory in five of the past fixtures between the sides, featuring victory in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their current regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a significant beating on the All Blacks courtesy of dominant performance in the capital, a result which has sparked another round of controversy regarding the development of the team under the coach.

Possibly most jarring for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, South Africa's achievement has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their opposition team.

Playing Philosophy

When the All Blacks were at the peak of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of dismantling opponents from all areas of the field and at all times of the contest.

Today, their playing philosophy is less defined as Robertson, who has given 19 debuts during his 24 months in control, tries to first establish the fundamental building blocks of a successful side.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager in charge of attack, their offensive coordinator, will exit the team after the autumn tour, making him the next individual of the coaching staff to exit after another coach walked away last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not only his winning record, but his methodology, that was anticipated to translate from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, as yet, the two aspects continue to be a ongoing development.

Business Factors

Following investment group the company invested capital in New Zealand rugby in the past, the following communication discussed the "pursuit of international expansion" for the organization.

That goal has possibly been more challenging by the lack of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the collection of Barrett brothers remain household names in the sport, but the distribution of talented players has expanded significantly. Their leader is the sole New Zealand player to receive global recognition in the past six seasons, in opposition to 10 in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Instead, efforts have been made to establish the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team achieved a landmark success in the match nine years ago.

Since the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the New Zealand team have furthermore