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

Games against the Irish team, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, in addition to the opportunity to match the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the games will be used as a benchmark to assess the development of the team under a leader now 24 months into from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a absence of an distinctive approach, continuing controversies over team picks and leavings from the coaching ticket have all added to the perception that the best-known side in the rugby is presently one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the decline in performances from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has prompted some to suggest that we have evolved beyond of the era of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Ahead of their travel for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that during the following season, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will play South Africa in a warm-weather tour called 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally the rugby's premier teams, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what organizers have labeled 'The Premier Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have won a pair of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be viewed as the squad of their generation.

New Zealand have persisted to defeat Ireland when it is crucial, beating their next challengers in the global competition of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, lost just a pair of the last fixtures with the English team, have defeated the Welsh side in each game since over sixty years ago and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Changing Dynamics

But the loss of their status as the game's gold standard will persist as an irritation.

While the New Zealand team dominated through the 2010s - securing 87% of their Test matches, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the balance of power moved in the international rugby.

New Zealand overcame South Africa in their first game of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

After that event, the All Blacks' winning percentage has declined to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, from the beginning of last year, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to compete with even the previous All Blacks side.

Head-to-Head

Over the same period, the South African team have won five of the recent encounters between the sides, comprising triumph in the latest global tournament decider.

While securing their most recent continental championship, South Africa delivered a historic loss on the New Zealand team through dominant performance in their home ground, a result which has sparked another wave of controversy about the direction of the squad under the coach.

Possibly most jarring for supporters of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their traditional strength, South Africa's success has come with an offensive flair more typically linked with their own side.

Style Evolution

During the period when the All Blacks were at the height of their powers a decade past, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit equipped of dismantling competitors from every section of the playing surface and at all times of the match.

Currently, their offensive approach is less defined as the coach, who has handed out multiple new players during his recent tenure in charge, tries to primarily create the fundamental building blocks of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member in charge of attack, Jason Holland, will exit the team after the fall series, becoming the next individual of the coaching staff to leave after previous staff member departed last year after just five Tests.

Team Development

It was not merely Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was expected to transfer from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, so far, each are still a continuous improvement.

Commercial Considerations

Following financial organization Silver Lake acquired shares in All Blacks in recent years, the subsequent announcement spoke of the "quest of worldwide growth" for the organization.

That objective has perhaps been more difficult by the shortage of a crossover star. Their key player and the collection of Barrett brothers continue to be well-known figures in the sport, but the spread of stars has never been spread wider. Their leader is the single All Black to receive World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in comparison to 10 in multiple seasons between 2005 and '07.

Global Expansion

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

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a return to the location where the Irish team achieved a landmark success in the match nine years ago.

Since the relaxation of health protocols, the All Blacks have also