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Seeking what would be just a fifth tour victory in their storied history, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an interesting juncture.

Games against Ireland, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, beyond the chance to join the squads of previous successful tours in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a measure to measure the progress of the side under a manager now two years on from beginning his tenure.

Current Challenges

Questions over a lack of an distinctive approach, enduring debates over player choices and departures from the management team have all contributed to the feeling that the most famous squad in the sport is now one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the drop in results from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to theorize that we have moved out of the period of All Black exceptionalism.

Recent History

Prior to their departure for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that during the following season, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a off-season matches dubbed 'an unprecedented series'.

In the past the rugby's premier teams, there is no question over who has currently outperformed of what promoters have called 'The Premier Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have claimed a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the northern hemisphere selection to be considered as the team of their generation.

The All Blacks have persisted to beat the Irish team when it counts most, overcoming their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, at the same time, lost just a pair of the recent encounters with England, have overcome Wales in every encounter since the sixties and have always been victorious by Scotland.

Changing Dynamics

But the decline of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will remain frustrating.

Whereas the New Zealand team dominated through the 2010s - securing 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the global trophy on several instances - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the balance of power shifted in the global game.

The All Blacks overcame South Africa in their first game of the competition in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in the final.

Since then, the New Zealand's victory ratio has dropped to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, from the beginning of 2023, have won at a frequency (83%) to compete with even the previous All Blacks side.

Recent Encounters

During the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have secured victory in five of the past fixtures between the sides, featuring triumph in the recent championship match.

In claiming their latest continental championship, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a historic loss on the All Blacks thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in their home ground, a result which has triggered another round of discussion concerning the direction of the side under the coach.

Possibly most concerning for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, allied to their usual power, South Africa's triumph has come with an creative approach more commonly connected with their own side.

Playing Philosophy

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the height of their powers in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of destroying rivals from all areas of the playing surface and at any moment of the match.

Currently, their offensive approach is unclear as the coach, who has given 19 debuts during his recent tenure in command, tries to first establish the fundamental core elements of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the assistant coach responsible for scoring, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the upcoming matches, making him the second member of the coaching staff to exit after another coach departed last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not just previous achievements, but his approach, that was anticipated to transfer from Crusaders when he assumed control after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, each are still a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

After financial organization the company invested capital in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the following communication spoke of the "search of worldwide growth" for the team.

That objective has possibly been more challenging by the shortage of a global icon. Their key player and the group of related players remain recognizable personalities in the game, but the concentration of talented players has never been spread wider. The captain is the sole All Black to earn World Player of the Year in the recent years, in contrast to ten awards in 13 years between previous generations.

Global Expansion

Rather, efforts have been implemented to establish the All Blacks into new territories.

The first leg of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but the American city, a revisit to the location where the Irish team obtained a landmark success in the fixture in previous seasons.

Since the reduction of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have furthermore