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Pursuing what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their legendary past, the All Blacks have headed north at an crucial period.

Matches against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the next four weekends but, quite aside from the opportunity to match the sides of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the fixtures will be used as a measure to evaluate the development of the side under a head coach now well established from taking up the reins.

Current Challenges

Questions over a shortage of an distinctive approach, ongoing discussions over team picks and exits from the coaching ticket have all fueled the perception that the most famous squad in the sport is presently one in a period of transition.

Most importantly, it is the decline in outcomes from a previous peak set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to suggest that we have transitioned away of the period of Kiwi superiority.

Recent History

Prior to their journey for the European tour, it was confirmed that during the following season, in the non-existence of the Rugby Championship, New Zealand will face the Springboks in a summer series called 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the game's two strongest sides, there is clear agreement over who has lately dominated of what promoters have described 'The Ultimate Contest'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have secured a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the home nations team to be viewed as the side of their era.

New Zealand have continued to defeat the Irish team when it matters most, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the tournament knockout stages of 2019 and '23. They have, meanwhile, lost just a pair of the last fixtures with England, have defeated the Welsh side in every encounter since the sixties and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

But the decline of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will persist as an irritation.

Whereas the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the last ten years - winning eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape moved in the world sport.

New Zealand beat the Springboks in their initial fixture of the championship in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in the championship match.

Since then, the New Zealand's winning percentage has dropped to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost ten of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of last year, have achieved victory at a rate (83%) to compete with even the last great New Zealand team.

Direct Competition

During the same period, the South African team have won five of the seven meetings between the opponents, comprising victory in the latest global tournament decider.

In claiming their current southern hemisphere crown, South Africa administered a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks courtesy of dominant performance in Wellington, a result which has ignited another series of controversy about the progress of the team under their leader.

Possibly most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their traditional strength, the Springboks' success has come with an offensive flair more commonly connected with their traditional rivals.

Team Identity

At the time that the All Blacks were at the peak of their powers in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine capable of dismantling opponents from all areas of the pitch and at any moment of the contest.

Currently, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as the coach, who has given multiple new players during his recent tenure in command, tries to primarily create the fundamental building blocks of a successful side.

It has previously announced that the assistant coach responsible for offense, the current coach, will leave his role after the fall series, becoming the additional person of the coaching staff to exit after another coach left last year after just five Tests.

Team Development

It was not just previous achievements, but his style, that was anticipated to carry over from his former team when he began his tenure after the global competition but, to date, the two aspects remain a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

Following investment group Silver Lake acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the ensuing statement discussed the "quest of worldwide growth" for the team.

That goal has perhaps been harder by the shortage of a crossover star. The current captain and the trio of Barrett brothers are still household names in the sport, but the spread of talented players has expanded significantly. The captain is the single All Black to receive international honors in the past six seasons, in contrast to ten awards in over a decade between the mid-2000s.

International Growth

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

The first leg of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland achieved a first ever victory in the fixture during past tours.

After the easing of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have also