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Seeking what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an pivotal moment.

Fixtures against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the next four weekends but, beyond the chance to match the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the matches will be used as a measure to evaluate the improvement of the team under a leader now well established from beginning his tenure.

Present Difficulties

Concerns over a lack of an clear playing identity, ongoing discussions over player choices and exits from the management team have all contributed to the perception that the best-known side in the game is presently one in a period of transition.

Most significantly, it is the dip in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of the last decade that has caused some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the period of New Zealand dominance.

Past Performance

Prior to their departure for the fall series, it was confirmed that during the following season, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will play the Springboks in a off-season matches termed 'a tour like no other'.

Traditionally the sport's top competitors, there is clear agreement over who has currently outperformed of what marketers have described 'The Ultimate Contest'.

In recent seasons, the South African team have claimed a couple of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a competition against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the squad of their era.

New Zealand have persisted to beat the Irish team when it counts most, defeating their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, been defeated in just two of the last fixtures with the English team, have overcome Wales in every encounter since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Changing Dynamics

But the diminishment of their standing as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.

While the New Zealand team dominated through the last ten years - securing 87% of their Test matches, as well as lifting the global trophy on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be viewed as when the balance of power moved in the international rugby.

New Zealand defeated the Springboks in their initial fixture of the competition in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

After that event, the All Blacks' victory ratio has dropped to seventy-one percent. South Africa themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, from the beginning of 2023, have won at a rate (83%) to rival even the last great New Zealand team.

Direct Competition

During the equivalent timeframe, the South African team have secured victory in the majority of the past fixtures between the sides, featuring victory in the latest global tournament decider.

In claiming their latest continental championship, the Springboks administered a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team courtesy of dominant performance in their home ground, a score which has ignited another round of controversy regarding the progress of the squad under the coach.

Perhaps most concerning for followers of the All Blacks will be that, alongside their traditional strength, South Africa's triumph has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their own side.

Style Evolution

When the All Blacks were at the zenith of their abilities a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine able of dismantling rivals from any part of the field and at all times of the game.

Today, their playing philosophy is more ambiguous as the coach, who has given numerous first caps during his two years in control, tries to initially build the basic building blocks of a winning team.

It has recently revealed that the backroom staff member in charge of attack, their offensive coordinator, will depart his position after the fall series, becoming the second member of the coaching staff to exit after Leon MacDonald departed last year after just five Tests.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not merely Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was predicted to translate from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the global competition but, to date, each continue to be a work in progress.

Commercial Considerations

After private equity firm Silver Lake acquired shares in All Blacks in 2022, the ensuing statement discussed the "quest of new global opportunities" for the team.

That task has perhaps been more difficult by the lack of a international celebrity. Their key player and the group of related players are still well-known figures in the rugby, but the distribution of stars has become more diverse. Savea is the sole All Black to earn World Player of the Year in the recent years, in comparison to 10 in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

Worldwide Reach

Instead, initiatives have been implemented to introduce the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.

The initial stage of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but the American city, a revisit to the stadium where Ireland obtained a first ever victory in the fixture nine years ago.

Following the reduction of pandemic limitations, the All Blacks have additionally