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Aiming for what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an crucial period.

Games against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the possibility to match the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to assess the progress of the team under a manager now two years on from taking up the reins.

Current Challenges

Questions over a lack of an clear playing identity, enduring debates over team picks and departures from the backroom staff have all fueled the sense that the best-known side in the game is currently one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the drop in results from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to speculate that we have moved out of the period of Kiwi superiority.

Recent History

Ahead of their departure for the European tour, it was confirmed that next year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will meet the Springboks in a summer series dubbed 'an unprecedented series'.

Historically the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has lately dominated of what promoters have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have secured a two of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the home nations team to be viewed as the squad of their generation.

New Zealand have persisted to overcome the Irish team when it counts most, defeating Saturday's opponents in the tournament knockout stages of 2019 and '23. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just a couple of the past 21 meetings with England, have overcome Wales in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Changing Dynamics

But the diminishment of their standing as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

Although the All Blacks excelled through the 2010s - winning 87% of their Test matches, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on several instances - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the balance of power changed in the international rugby.

The All Blacks defeated South Africa in their opening match of the competition in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in the final.

From that point, the New Zealand's victory ratio has declined to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost ten of their following games but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (eighty-three percent) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.

Recent Encounters

During the comparable duration, the Springboks have won the majority of the recent encounters between the teams, comprising triumph in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their latest southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a significant beating on the New Zealand team through overwhelming display in their home ground, a outcome which has sparked another wave of controversy regarding the progress of the team under Robertson.

Perhaps most troubling for fans of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' success has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their own side.

Style Evolution

When the New Zealand team were at the peak of their powers in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of shredding rivals from every section of the pitch and at all times of the contest.

Today, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as their leader, who has given multiple new players during his two years in charge, tries to initially build the basic building blocks of a successful side.

It has recently revealed that the backroom staff member in charge of offense, their offensive coordinator, will depart his position after the autumn tour, becoming the next individual of Robertson's ticket to leave after Leon MacDonald walked away last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not merely previous achievements, but his approach, that was predicted to translate from his former team when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, both continue to be a continuous improvement.

Commercial Considerations

After financial organization investors invested capital in New Zealand rugby in the past, the subsequent announcement spoke of the "quest of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That objective has possibly been more challenging by the shortage of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the group of family members continue to be recognizable personalities in the sport, but the concentration of stars has expanded significantly. The captain is the sole New Zealand player to win World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in opposition to 10 in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

Global Expansion

Alternatively, initiatives have been undertaken to introduce the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but Chicago, a revisit to the stadium where Ireland achieved a landmark success in the match nine years ago.

After the easing of health protocols, the All Blacks have furthermore