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

Fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, in addition to the opportunity to join the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the games will be used as a yardstick to measure the development of the side under a head coach now 24 months into from beginning his tenure.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a absence of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over selection and leavings from the coaching ticket have all added to the perception that the best-known side in the rugby is currently 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 2011 and 2019 that has led some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the age of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Prior to their departure for the northern hemisphere, it was confirmed that next year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will meet the Springboks in a warm-weather tour called 'a tour like no other'.

In the past the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what organizers have described 'The Ultimate Contest'.

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have won a pair of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the northern hemisphere selection to be regarded as the team of their period.

The All Blacks have maintained to defeat 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, lost just two of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have defeated the Welsh side in each game since 1963 and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the decline of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

While the New Zealand team excelled through the 2010s - winning 87% of their Test matches, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on several instances - the global tournament of 2019 can now be seen as when the balance of power moved in the international rugby.

New Zealand defeated the Springboks in their first game of the competition in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were eventually successful in the championship match.

After that event, the All Blacks' winning percentage has declined to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of last year, have achieved victory at a rate (eighty-three percent) to compete with even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

Over the comparable duration, the 'Boks have secured victory in the majority of the past fixtures between the opponents, comprising victory in the 2023 World Cup final.

During their pursuit of their most recent regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a significant beating on the New Zealand team through overwhelming display in their home ground, a result which has ignited another round of controversy about the direction of the side under their leader.

Possibly most concerning for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their usual power, South Africa's success has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their own side.

Style Evolution

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the peak of their abilities in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit equipped of shredding rivals from every section of the playing surface and at all times of the game.

Currently, their offensive approach is unclear as the coach, who has awarded numerous first caps during his two years in command, tries to first establish the fundamental core elements of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the backroom staff member overseeing offense, the current coach, will leave his role after the autumn tour, making him the second member of management team to depart after Leon MacDonald left last year after just a handful of games.

Team Development

It was not merely previous achievements, but his methodology, that was predicted to carry over from previous club when he took over after the 2023 World Cup but, as yet, the two aspects are still a work in progress.

Organizational Strategy

After private equity firm investors acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the ensuing statement discussed the "pursuit of new global opportunities" for the brand.

That task has maybe been more difficult by the absence of a global icon. Their key player and the collection of family members continue to be well-known figures in the sport, but the distribution of talented players has become more diverse. Savea is the only New Zealand player to earn international honors in the current era, in comparison to 10 in over a decade between the mid-2000s.

Global Expansion

Instead, efforts have been undertaken to transplant the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to Dublin but the American city, a revisit to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland obtained a historic win in the match nine years ago.

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