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

Matches against Ireland, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the next four weekends but, in addition to the possibility to match the teams of previous successful tours in the history books, the matches will be used as a measure to measure the progress of the side under a head coach now 24 months into from beginning his tenure.

Team Issues

Doubts over a absence of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over selection and leavings from the management team have all fueled the perception that the most recognisable team in the rugby is currently one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the dip in performances from a past excellence set between the World Cups of the last decade that has prompted some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Prior to their departure for the fall series, it was confirmed that in the coming year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will meet South Africa in a off-season matches dubbed 'a tour like no other'.

In the past the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what marketers have called 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have claimed a pair of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the squad of their generation.

The All Blacks have continued to beat Ireland when it is crucial, defeating this weekend's rivals in the global competition of recent years. They have, additionally, been defeated in just two of the past 21 meetings with England, have beaten the Welsh side in each game since over sixty years ago and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

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

Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the previous decade - securing 87% of their international games, as well as winning the World Cup on several instances - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the competitive landscape shifted in the global game.

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

After that event, the All Blacks' success rate has declined to 71%. The Springboks themselves were defeated in ten of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of 2023, have won at a frequency (eighty-three percent) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Head-to-Head

Over the comparable duration, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the recent encounters between the opponents, including triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

While securing their most recent regional title, South Africa administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks courtesy of 36 unanswered second-half points in their home ground, a score which has sparked another round of discussion concerning the development of the squad under their leader.

Possibly most jarring for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their usual power, the Springboks' success has come with an creative approach more typically linked with their own side.

Style Evolution

When the New Zealand team were at the peak of their abilities in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of shredding rivals from all areas of the playing surface and at any point of the game.

Now, their playing philosophy is less defined as the coach, who has handed out multiple new players during his recent tenure in control, tries to primarily create the more prosaic building blocks of a winning team.

It has previously announced that the assistant coach responsible for offense, their offensive coordinator, will exit the team after the upcoming matches, becoming the second member of management team to leave after another coach walked away last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not only his winning record, but his approach, that was expected to carry over from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the global competition but, so far, each are still a work in progress.

Business Factors

Following private equity firm investors invested capital in New Zealand rugby in the past, the following communication spoke of the "quest of worldwide growth" for the brand.

That task has perhaps been more difficult by the shortage of a international celebrity. Their key player and the trio of family members continue to be recognizable personalities in the rugby, but the spread of talented players has become more diverse. The captain is the only All Black to receive international honors in the current era, in comparison to ten awards in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

Global Expansion

Rather, initiatives have been made to introduce the New Zealand team into new territories.

The first leg of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a return to the location where the Irish team obtained a first ever victory in the match in previous seasons.

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