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

Games against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the next four weekends but, beyond the opportunity to join the squads of previous successful tours in the record books, the games will be used as a measure to measure the development of the squad under a leader now 24 months into from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Concerns over a shortage of an distinctive approach, enduring debates over selection and exits from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the sense that the most recognisable team in the game is presently one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the drop in outcomes from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has caused some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the period of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Prior to their travel for the European tour, it was announced that next year, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a summer series called 'a tour like no other'.

Historically the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has recently got the better of what promoters have labeled 'The Premier Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have secured a couple of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the squad of their era.

New Zealand have persisted to beat Ireland when it matters most, overcoming their next challengers in the tournament knockout stages of 2019 and '23. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just a couple of the last fixtures with England, have beaten the Welsh side in all matches since 1963 and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

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

Although the All Blacks reigned supreme through the 2010s - winning eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be seen as when the competitive landscape moved in the world sport.

The All Blacks defeated South Africa in their first game of the tournament in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

After that event, the All Blacks' success rate has dropped to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, from the beginning of last year, have won at a rate (83%) to compete with even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

During the same period, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the seven meetings between the opponents, comprising victory in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their latest continental championship, the Springboks delivered a historic loss on the New Zealand team courtesy of overwhelming display in Wellington, a result which has ignited another series of controversy regarding the progress of the team under Robertson.

Possibly most jarring for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their usual power, South Africa's achievement has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their opposition team.

Playing Philosophy

When the All Blacks were at the zenith of their capabilities in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit capable of shredding opponents from every section of the field and at any moment of the game.

Today, their offensive approach is unclear as Robertson, who has handed out 19 debuts during his recent tenure in command, tries to first establish the basic core elements of a winning team.

It has recently revealed that the backroom staff member in charge of attack, their offensive coordinator, will depart his position after the fall series, becoming the next individual of the coaching staff to depart after previous staff member left last year after just five Tests.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not just his winning record, but his methodology, that was predicted to transfer from Crusaders when he assumed control after the global competition but, so far, both continue to be a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

When private equity firm Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in 2022, the following communication discussed the "pursuit of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That task has maybe been more difficult by the lack of a global icon. Their key player and the trio of family members remain recognizable personalities in the rugby, but the distribution of talented players has never been spread wider. The captain is the only New Zealand player to earn global recognition in the current era, in contrast to ten awards in 13 years between the mid-2000s.

Worldwide Reach

Rather, attempts have been implemented to transplant the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The first leg of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but Chicago, a return to the location where Ireland achieved a historic win in the contest in previous seasons.

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