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Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an pivotal moment.

Matches against the Irish team, the Scottish side, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, in addition to the possibility to equal the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the matches will be used as a measure to evaluate the improvement of the side under a manager now well established from beginning his tenure.

Present Difficulties

Concerns over a absence of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over team picks and departures from the backroom staff have all fueled the feeling that the most famous squad in the sport is now one in a time of change.

Most significantly, it is the decline in outcomes from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Before their journey for the fall series, it was announced that next year, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will face South Africa in a warm-weather tour called 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what promoters have described 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have claimed a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the northern hemisphere selection to be regarded as the team of their era.

New Zealand have persisted to beat the Irish team when it matters most, defeating their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, meanwhile, lost just two of the last fixtures 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 decline of their position as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.

Whereas the All Blacks excelled through the previous decade - achieving 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the global trophy on multiple times - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the competitive landscape changed in the global game.

The All Blacks beat the Springboks in their opening match of the championship in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

After that event, the New Zealand's winning percentage has dropped to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, since the start of last year, have achieved victory at a rate (83%) to match even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

Over the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have secured victory in the majority of the recent encounters between the opponents, featuring victory in the recent championship match.

While securing their most recent southern hemisphere crown, the Springboks administered a significant beating on the New Zealand team courtesy of dominant performance in Wellington, a score which has triggered another round of controversy regarding the direction of the side under the coach.

Possibly most jarring for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, South Africa's triumph has come with an creative approach more usually associated with their traditional rivals.

Playing Philosophy

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the peak of their capabilities in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit able of dismantling competitors from any part of the field and at any moment of the contest.

Now, their offensive approach is less defined as Robertson, who has handed out multiple new players during his two years in control, tries to initially build the basic building blocks of a successful side.

It has previously announced that the supporting manager in charge of attack, their offensive coordinator, will exit the team after the upcoming matches, making him the second member of the coaching staff to leave after another coach walked away last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not only previous achievements, but his style, that was expected to transfer from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the global competition but, to date, each are still a work in progress.

Commercial Considerations

When investment group investors invested capital in New Zealand rugby in the past, the ensuing statement spoke of the "quest of new global opportunities" for the organization.

That objective has possibly been more challenging by the lack of a crossover star. The current captain and the collection of family members remain well-known figures in the sport, but the spread of stars has never been spread wider. Savea is the only All Black to earn international honors in the current era, in opposition to 10 in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

Global Expansion

Instead, efforts have been made to establish the All Blacks into new territories.

The opening phase of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the location where Ireland achieved a landmark success in the match in previous seasons.

After the relaxation of health protocols, the New Zealand team have furthermore