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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 crucial period.

Fixtures against the Irish team, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await the All Blacks across the upcoming weeks but, in addition to the possibility to match the sides of previous successful tours in the history books, the games will be used as a benchmark to measure the progress of the squad under a leader now 24 months into from assuming control.

Current Challenges

Questions over a lack of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over team picks and exits from the coaching ticket have all fueled the feeling that the most famous squad in the game is currently one in a period of transition.

Most pertinently, it is the decline in performances from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has led some to theorize that we have moved out of the period of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Ahead of their journey for the European tour, it was confirmed that next year, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in a summer series termed 'a unique competition'.

Traditionally the rugby's premier teams, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what promoters have called 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have claimed a pair of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the home nations team to be considered as the squad of their generation.

New Zealand have continued to defeat Ireland when it counts most, overcoming Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of the past two tournaments. They have, meanwhile, lost just two of the last fixtures with the English team, have defeated Wales in every encounter since over sixty years ago and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

But the decline of their status as the rugby's benchmark will continue to rankle.

Whereas the New Zealand team dominated through the previous decade - achieving eighty-seven percent of their fixtures, as well as claiming the global trophy on two occasions - the World Cup of 2019 can now be regarded as when the competitive landscape changed in the global game.

The All Blacks overcame South Africa in their first game of the championship in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

From that point, the All Blacks' victory ratio has fallen to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a rate (83%) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

During the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have won five of the seven meetings between the sides, comprising success in the recent championship match.

While securing their most recent continental championship, Rassie Erasmus' side delivered a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in their home ground, a outcome which has ignited another series of controversy concerning the development of the side under the coach.

Maybe most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their usual power, the Springboks' achievement has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their opposition team.

Playing Philosophy

During the period when the All Blacks were at the zenith of their abilities a decade past, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit equipped of destroying opponents from every section of the pitch and at any moment of the contest.

Today, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as their leader, who has given 19 debuts during his 24 months in command, tries to primarily create the fundamental core elements of a successful side.

It has recently revealed that the backroom staff member in charge of scoring, Jason Holland, will leave his role after the autumn tour, becoming the next individual of management team to depart after another coach left last year after just limited matches.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not just his winning record, but his methodology, that was anticipated to translate from his former team when he assumed control after the recent tournament but, to date, both are still a continuous improvement.

Commercial Considerations

When financial organization the company bought a stake in All Blacks in the past, the ensuing statement discussed the "search of worldwide growth" for the organization.

That task has possibly been harder by the lack of a crossover star. The current captain and the trio of Barrett brothers continue to be recognizable personalities in the rugby, but the concentration of key individuals has expanded significantly. Savea is the sole New Zealand player to earn international honors in the past six seasons, in contrast to ten awards in over a decade between the mid-2000s.

Worldwide Reach

Instead, attempts have been made to introduce the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.

The initial stage of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team achieved a landmark success in the match in previous seasons.

After the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have also