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Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their illustrious legacy, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an interesting juncture.

Fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the upcoming weeks but, beyond the possibility to join the teams of previous successful tours in the record books, the games will be used as a measure to measure the progress of the side under a leader now well established from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Questions over a absence of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over team picks and leavings from the backroom staff have all fueled the perception that the best-known side in the game is now one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the drop in results from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to speculate that we have evolved beyond of the period of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Before their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that during the following season, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will face South Africa in a summer series dubbed 'a unique competition'.

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

Over the past seven years, the South African team have claimed a pair of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a series against the northern hemisphere selection to be considered as the side of their period.

New Zealand have maintained to defeat Ireland when it matters most, overcoming their next challengers in the global competition of recent years. They have, additionally, lost just a couple of the past 21 meetings with England, have overcome the Welsh side in all matches since 1963 and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.

Changing Dynamics

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

Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the previous decade - securing 87% of their fixtures, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on several instances - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power shifted in the international rugby.

New Zealand overcame the Springboks in their first game of the competition in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the final.

Since then, the New Zealand's victory ratio has declined to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, from the beginning of last year, have won at a rate (83%) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

Throughout the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have won five of the recent encounters between the teams, comprising success in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their latest southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a significant beating on the All Blacks courtesy of 36 unanswered second-half points in Wellington, a score which has ignited another series of discussion regarding the progress of the side under their leader.

Perhaps most troubling for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their traditional strength, the Springboks' achievement has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their own side.

Team Identity

When the All Blacks were at the height of their abilities a decade past, they were a clinical transition team capable of destroying opponents from any part of the pitch and at any point of the contest.

Today, their offensive approach is less defined as the coach, who has awarded multiple new players during his recent tenure in charge, tries to primarily create the more prosaic core elements of a competitive squad.

It has previously announced that the assistant coach in charge of offense, the current coach, will leave his role after the autumn tour, becoming the next individual of management team to depart after Leon MacDonald departed last year after just a handful of games.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not only his winning record, but his style, that was predicted to translate from his former team when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, so far, the two aspects are still a continuous improvement.

Commercial Considerations

When investment group Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in the past, the ensuing statement spoke of the "quest of worldwide growth" for the brand.

That goal has perhaps been more difficult by the lack of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers remain well-known figures in the rugby, but the spread of talented players has never been spread wider. Their leader is the single New Zealand player to earn global recognition in the past six seasons, in comparison to ten awards in 13 years between the mid-2000s.

Worldwide Reach

Rather, attempts have been undertaken to establish the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a comeback to the stadium where the Irish team achieved a first ever victory in the contest nine years ago.

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