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Aiming for what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an pivotal moment.

Fixtures against Ireland, the Scottish side, the English squad and Wales await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, quite aside from the chance to join the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a yardstick to measure the improvement of the team under a leader now 24 months into from assuming control.

Team Issues

Doubts over a absence of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over team picks and leavings from the backroom staff have all added to the perception that the most famous squad in the rugby is presently one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the drop in performances from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of the last decade that has prompted some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the age of Kiwi superiority.

Past Performance

Prior to their travel for the fall series, it was revealed that in the coming year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will face the Springboks in a warm-weather tour termed 'a tour like no other'.

Historically the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has lately dominated of what promoters have described 'The Premier Rivalry'.

During the last decade, the South African team have secured a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the team of their generation.

New Zealand have persisted to beat the Irish team when it counts most, defeating their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of the past two tournaments. They have, meanwhile, been defeated in just two of the recent encounters with England, have defeated the Welsh side in each game since 1963 and have never suffered defeat by the Scottish team.

Shifting Balance

But the decline of their status as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.

Although the New Zealand team excelled through the 2010s - securing eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as claiming the global trophy on two occasions - the World Cup of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the balance of power shifted in the world sport.

The All Blacks defeated South Africa in their opening match of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in Yokohama.

Since then, the New Zealand's success rate has declined to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, from the beginning of last year, have won at a percentage (83%) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Recent Encounters

Throughout the same period, the Springboks have won the majority of the past fixtures between the opponents, featuring victory in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their most recent continental championship, South Africa inflicted a historic loss on the All Blacks through 36 unanswered second-half points in the capital, a result which has sparked another series of discussion about the direction of the team under their leader.

Maybe most jarring for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their usual power, South Africa's triumph has come with an offensive flair more commonly connected with their opposition team.

Playing Philosophy

At the time that the All Blacks were at the zenith of their capabilities a decade past, they were a clinical transition team capable of shredding opponents from every section of the playing surface and at all times of the match.

Today, their attacking style is less defined as Robertson, who has awarded 19 debuts during his recent tenure in control, tries to primarily create the fundamental building blocks of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager responsible for offense, Jason Holland, will exit the team after the fall series, making him the next individual of management team to depart after previous staff member walked away last year after just a handful of games.

Team Development

It was not only his winning record, but his approach, that was anticipated to translate from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, so far, each remain a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

Following investment group Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in 2022, the subsequent announcement discussed the "quest of worldwide growth" for the team.

That task has perhaps been harder by the shortage of a global icon. Ardie Savea and the trio of family members continue to be well-known figures in the game, but the distribution of stars has become more diverse. Their leader is the single New Zealand player to earn international honors in the recent years, in comparison to ten awards in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

Worldwide Reach

Instead, efforts have been implemented to transplant the All Blacks into new territories.

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to Dublin but the American city, a comeback to the location where Ireland achieved a first ever victory in the contest in previous seasons.

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