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

Fixtures against Ireland, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await the All Blacks across the upcoming weeks but, beyond the possibility to match the sides of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the fixtures will be used as a yardstick to assess the progress of the team under a manager now well established from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Concerns over a absence of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over player choices and leavings from the management team have all fueled the sense that the most famous squad in the sport is presently one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the decline in results from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has caused some to speculate that we have moved out of the period of All Black exceptionalism.

Recent History

Prior to their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that in the coming year, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will face South Africa in a summer series dubbed 'an unprecedented series'.

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

In recent seasons, the South African team have secured a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a series against the home nations team to be considered as the side of their period.

New Zealand have persisted to overcome the Irish team when it matters most, defeating Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, additionally, been defeated in just a pair of the recent encounters with the English team, have beaten Wales in each game since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

But the loss of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

Although the All Blacks reigned supreme through the previous decade - winning 87% of their fixtures, as well as claiming the World Cup on several instances - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the hierarchical structure shifted in the international rugby.

The All Blacks defeated the Springboks in their opening match of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in the final.

Since then, the All Blacks' victory ratio has fallen to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of last year, have won at a frequency (83%) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

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

In claiming their latest regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a significant beating on the All Blacks through dominant performance in Wellington, a outcome which has ignited another round of controversy regarding the development of the squad under the coach.

Maybe most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' success has come with an creative approach more usually associated with their opposition team.

Team Identity

When the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their abilities a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine able of shredding rivals from any part of the pitch and at any point of the contest.

Today, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as the coach, who has awarded 19 debuts during his recent tenure in command, tries to primarily create the fundamental core elements of a competitive squad.

It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager overseeing offense, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the fall series, becoming the second member of Robertson's ticket to depart after previous staff member left last year after just a handful of games.

Team Development

It was not just Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was expected to transfer from previous club when he took over after the global competition but, as yet, both remain a work in progress.

Business Factors

After private equity firm the company acquired shares in All Blacks in 2022, the subsequent announcement mentioned the "quest of new global opportunities" for the team.

That objective has perhaps been more challenging by the absence of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the collection of related players continue to be well-known figures in the rugby, but the spread of stars has never been spread wider. The captain is the sole All Black to win World Player of the Year in the current era, in comparison to 10 in multiple seasons between 2005 and '07.

Global Expansion

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

The first leg of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to Dublin but Chicago, a return to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland obtained a landmark success in the contest nine years ago.

Since the reduction of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have additionally