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Seeking what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an pivotal moment.

Games against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the chance to equal the teams of previous successful tours in the history books, the matches will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the development of the team under a head coach now 24 months into from taking up the reins.

Present Difficulties

Questions over a shortage of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over team picks and exits from the management team have all added to the sense that the most famous squad in the game is now one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the decline in outcomes from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has caused some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the era of Kiwi superiority.

Recent History

Before their travel for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that next year, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play South Africa in a summer series dubbed 'a unique competition'.

Historically the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has lately dominated of what promoters have described 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the South African team have claimed a couple of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the British and Irish Lions to be viewed as the squad of their period.

The All Blacks have maintained to defeat the Irish team when it matters most, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the tournament knockout stages of 2019 and '23. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just two of the recent encounters with England, have beaten the Welsh side in every encounter since 1963 and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

But the diminishment of their status as the rugby's benchmark will persist as an irritation.

Whereas the All Blacks reigned supreme through the 2010s - achieving eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as claiming the World Cup on multiple times - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape changed in the world sport.

New Zealand overcame South Africa in their first game of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in the final.

Since then, the All Blacks' success rate has declined to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in ten of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of 2023, have won at a percentage (83%) to match even the last great New Zealand team.

Direct Competition

During the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the recent encounters between the sides, comprising victory in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their latest southern hemisphere crown, the Springboks delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks through dominant performance in the capital, a outcome which has sparked another wave of debate about the progress of the side under their leader.

Possibly most jarring for followers of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their usual power, the Springboks' success has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their opposition team.

Team Identity

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the peak of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of dismantling rivals from all areas of the pitch and at any point of the game.

Now, their offensive approach is less defined as the coach, who has given 19 debuts during his two years in command, tries to initially build the basic building blocks of a winning team.

It has previously announced that the supporting manager in charge of attack, the current coach, will depart his position after the fall series, becoming the second member of the coaching staff to depart after Leon MacDonald walked away last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not just previous achievements, but his methodology, that was expected to translate from his former team when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, as yet, the two aspects continue to be a ongoing development.

Business Factors

Following investment group the company acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the ensuing statement discussed the "quest of new global opportunities" for the team.

That goal has possibly been harder by the shortage of a global icon. The current captain and the group of Barrett brothers remain recognizable personalities in the sport, but the spread of key individuals has never been spread wider. Savea is the only New Zealand player to win global recognition in the recent years, in comparison to 10 in over a decade between previous generations.

International Growth

Instead, attempts have been made to transplant the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.

The first leg of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the stadium where Ireland obtained a first ever victory in the fixture nine years ago.

Since the reduction of health protocols, the New Zealand team have additionally