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Seeking what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their storied history, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an pivotal moment.

Games against Ireland, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await the All Blacks across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the opportunity to equal the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the games will be used as a benchmark to measure the development of the team under a manager now well established from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Concerns over a absence of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over selection and departures from the management team have all added to the sense that the best-known side in the sport is now one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the drop in results from a past excellence set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to suggest that we have moved out of the era of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Ahead of their departure for the fall series, it was announced that during the following season, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will meet the Springboks in a warm-weather tour dubbed 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is little doubt over who has currently outperformed of what organizers have described 'The Ultimate Contest'.

During the last decade, 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 squad of their period.

The All Blacks have maintained to overcome Ireland when it matters most, overcoming their next challengers in the tournament knockout stages of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, lost just a couple of the past 21 meetings with England, have defeated Wales in each game since the sixties and have always been victorious by Scotland.

Shifting Balance

But the diminishment of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.

Although the All Blacks reigned supreme through the previous decade - securing 87% of their international games, as well as winning the World Cup on several instances - the World Cup of 2019 can now be viewed as when the hierarchical structure changed in the international rugby.

New Zealand overcame South Africa in their opening match of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the championship match.

From that point, the All Blacks' victory ratio has dropped to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of last year, have won at a percentage (83%) to rival even the last great New Zealand team.

Head-to-Head

Over the comparable duration, the Springboks have won the majority of the past fixtures between the teams, featuring triumph in the latest global tournament decider.

While securing their most recent southern hemisphere crown, the Springboks inflicted a significant beating on the New Zealand team courtesy of 36 unanswered second-half points in the capital, a outcome which has sparked another wave of controversy regarding the development of the squad under the coach.

Possibly most concerning for supporters of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their usual power, the Springboks' achievement has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their traditional rivals.

Style Evolution

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their powers a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of shredding rivals from all areas of the playing surface and at all times of the game.

Currently, their playing philosophy is less defined as their leader, who has handed out numerous first caps during his recent tenure in control, tries to primarily create the fundamental core elements of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the supporting manager overseeing offense, the current coach, will exit the team after the autumn tour, becoming the additional person of the coaching staff to exit after previous staff member walked away last year after just a handful of games.

Performance Gap

It was not just Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was anticipated to carry over from previous club when he assumed control after the global competition but, so far, the two aspects are still a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

Following private equity firm the company bought a stake in New Zealand rugby in recent years, the following communication discussed the "search of worldwide growth" for the organization.

That goal has perhaps been harder by the absence of a global icon. The current captain and the group of related players remain well-known figures in the rugby, but the concentration of talented players has never been spread wider. Their leader is the sole All Black to receive World Player of the Year in the past six seasons, in contrast to ten awards in 13 years between previous generations.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, efforts have been undertaken to introduce the All Blacks into previously untapped markets.

The first leg of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland obtained a landmark success in the match nine years ago.

Following the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have additionally