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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 pivotal moment.

Games against the Irish team, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the next four weekends but, in addition to the opportunity to join the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the games will be used as a yardstick to measure the improvement of the squad under a head coach now well established from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Questions over a absence of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over team picks and exits from the backroom staff have all added to 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 performances from a past excellence set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the age of New Zealand dominance.

Team Record

Prior to their journey for the fall series, it was confirmed that next year, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a off-season matches called 'a tour like no other'.

Historically the game's two strongest sides, there is clear agreement over who has recently got the better of what organizers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have secured a couple of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the home nations team to be considered as the team of their generation.

The All Blacks have maintained to beat the Irish team when it matters most, overcoming their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of 2019 and '23. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just two of the past 21 meetings with England, have beaten Wales in each game since 1963 and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

But the decline of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.

While the All Blacks dominated through the 2010s - achieving 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape moved in the world sport.

New Zealand overcame the Springboks in their opening match of the competition in Japan, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the final.

Since then, the All Blacks' success rate has declined to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, from the beginning of last year, have achieved victory at a rate (eighty-three percent) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.

Recent Encounters

Over the comparable duration, the South African team have secured victory in the majority of the recent encounters between the teams, comprising victory in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their current southern hemisphere crown, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a significant beating on the New Zealand team thanks to overwhelming display in the capital, a outcome which has triggered another wave of debate regarding the development of the side under Robertson.

Maybe most jarring for followers of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' triumph has come with an attacking verve more typically linked with their traditional rivals.

Playing Philosophy

When the All Blacks were at the height of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of destroying opponents from any part of the playing surface and at any moment of the match.

Today, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has awarded numerous first caps during his 24 months in control, tries to initially build the more prosaic building blocks of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager in charge of scoring, the current coach, will depart his position after the fall series, making him the additional person of management team to leave after previous staff member walked away last year after just limited matches.

Performance Gap

It was not merely his winning record, but his methodology, that was predicted to translate from Crusaders when he took over after the recent tournament but, to date, each are still a ongoing development.

Business Factors

Following private equity firm Silver Lake bought a stake in All Blacks in the past, the subsequent announcement mentioned the "quest of international expansion" for the team.

That goal has possibly been more challenging by the absence of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers continue to be household names in the rugby, but the spread of stars has never been spread wider. The captain is the single New Zealand player to earn World Player of the Year in the recent years, in comparison to 10 in multiple seasons between previous generations.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, initiatives have been implemented to transplant the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a comeback to the location where Ireland secured a landmark success in the contest in previous seasons.

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