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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 pivotal moment.

Games against the Irish team, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the upcoming weeks but, quite aside from the chance to match the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the games will be used as a measure to assess the development of the side under a head coach now two years on from beginning his tenure.

Current Challenges

Concerns over a shortage of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over player choices and leavings from the management team have all contributed to the perception that the best-known side in the game is now one in a state of flux.

Most pertinently, it is the decline in performances from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to speculate that we have moved out of the era of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Prior to their departure for the European tour, it was announced that during the following season, in the non-existence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will play South Africa in a warm-weather tour termed 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the game's two strongest sides, there is little doubt over who has lately dominated of what promoters have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have won a two of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be viewed as the squad of their period.

New Zealand have continued to overcome Ireland when it counts most, defeating this weekend's rivals in the tournament knockout stages of the past two tournaments. They have, additionally, lost just a pair of the recent encounters with England, have defeated the Welsh side in each game since the sixties and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

But the loss of their standing as the game's gold standard will persist as an irritation.

While the New Zealand team dominated through the last ten years - winning 87% of their Test matches, as well as claiming the global trophy on several instances - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the hierarchical structure moved in the global game.

New Zealand beat the Springboks in their first game of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in the final.

Since then, the All Blacks' winning percentage has dropped to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves lost ten of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of 2023, have achieved victory at a frequency (83%) to match even the previous All Blacks side.

Recent Encounters

Over the comparable duration, the 'Boks have secured victory in five of the recent encounters between the opponents, featuring success in the latest global tournament decider.

In claiming their latest southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a historic loss on the New Zealand team thanks to dominant performance in the capital, a outcome which has triggered another round of debate regarding the development of the squad under Robertson.

Possibly most concerning for followers of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their traditional strength, South Africa's achievement has come with an offensive flair more commonly connected with their opposition team.

Team Identity

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the height of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of dismantling competitors from any part of the playing surface and at any moment of the contest.

Now, their playing philosophy is less defined as Robertson, who has awarded multiple new players during his 24 months in command, tries to primarily create the more prosaic foundations of a competitive squad.

It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager overseeing offense, their offensive coordinator, will leave his role after the fall series, making him the next individual of management team to exit after previous staff member left last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not just his winning record, but his methodology, that was expected to transfer from previous club when he began his tenure after the global competition but, so far, both continue to be a continuous improvement.

Business Factors

Following private equity firm Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in recent years, the subsequent announcement mentioned the "search of worldwide growth" for the organization.

That goal has possibly been more difficult by the shortage of a crossover star. The current captain and the trio of related players remain recognizable personalities in the sport, but the spread of talented players has become more diverse. Their leader is the sole New Zealand player to win international honors in the recent years, in contrast to 10 in multiple seasons between the mid-2000s.

Global Expansion

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

The first leg of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the stadium where the Irish team achieved a first ever victory in the fixture nine years ago.

Following the easing of health protocols, the New Zealand team have furthermore