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Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their legendary past, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an interesting juncture.

Matches against the Irish team, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, quite aside from the possibility to join the teams of previous successful tours in the record books, the games will be used as a benchmark to measure the development of the team under a manager now two years on from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Questions over a shortage of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over player choices and exits from the coaching ticket have all contributed to the perception that the most recognisable team in the rugby is now one in a state of flux.

Most importantly, it is the decline in outcomes from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to suggest that we have moved out of the period of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Prior to their departure for the northern hemisphere, it was announced that next year, in the non-existence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will face the Springboks in a summer series called 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the rugby's premier teams, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what marketers have called 'The Premier Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have claimed a couple of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the side of their era.

The All Blacks have persisted to defeat Ireland when it matters most, overcoming Saturday's opponents in the tournament knockout stages of recent years. They have, additionally, been defeated in just two of the last fixtures with the English team, have defeated the Welsh side in each game since the sixties and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

But the decline of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

Whereas the All Blacks dominated through the previous decade - winning eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as lifting the global trophy on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be seen as when the balance of power moved in the world sport.

New Zealand defeated South Africa in their first game of the championship in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the championship match.

From that point, the New Zealand's victory ratio has dropped to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their following games but, from the beginning of last year, have achieved victory at a rate (83%) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

Throughout the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the past fixtures between the opponents, featuring victory in the recent championship match.

During their pursuit of their most recent continental championship, the Springboks delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks thanks to dominant performance in the capital, a outcome which has triggered another wave of controversy regarding the direction of the team under the coach.

Maybe most troubling for followers of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their traditional strength, the Springboks' achievement has come with an offensive flair more typically linked with their traditional rivals.

Playing Philosophy

During the period when the All Blacks were at the peak of their powers 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit capable of destroying competitors from any part of the field and at any moment of the contest.

Today, their offensive approach is unclear as Robertson, who has handed out numerous first caps during his 24 months in command, tries to first establish the more prosaic core elements of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach in charge of scoring, Jason Holland, will depart his position after the upcoming matches, becoming the additional person of the coaching staff to leave after previous staff member left last year after just limited matches.

Performance Gap

It was not only Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was predicted to transfer from his former team when he assumed control after the global competition but, so far, each continue to be a work in progress.

Commercial Considerations

When financial organization the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the following communication mentioned the "pursuit of new global opportunities" for the organization.

That goal has possibly been more difficult by the absence of a international celebrity. Their key player and the group of Barrett brothers are still recognizable personalities in the game, but the spread of key individuals has never been spread wider. The captain is the single All Black to earn global recognition in the past six seasons, in comparison to 10 in multiple seasons between 2005 and '07.

Global Expansion

Rather, attempts have been undertaken to introduce the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.

The initial stage of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland achieved a historic win in the fixture nine years ago.

After the reduction of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have furthermore