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Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have embarked on their tour at an interesting juncture.

Matches against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the upcoming weeks but, beyond the opportunity to match the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to assess the development of the side under a leader now 24 months into from beginning his tenure.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a absence of an identifiable style, enduring debates over team picks and exits from the management team have all added to the sense that the most famous squad in the game is presently one in a time of change.

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 suggest that we have transitioned away of the period of All Black exceptionalism.

Past Performance

Ahead of their departure for the European tour, it was revealed that next year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will meet the Springboks in a summer series termed 'a unique competition'.

In the past the game's two strongest sides, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what marketers have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.

During the last decade, the Springboks have won a couple of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the home nations team to be considered as the team of their period.

The All Blacks have persisted to beat Ireland when it matters most, defeating their next challengers in the global competition of recent years. They have, at the same time, lost just a couple of the last fixtures with the English team, have beaten the Welsh side in every encounter since 1963 and have always been victorious by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

But the loss of their standing as the rugby's benchmark will remain frustrating.

Whereas the All Blacks reigned supreme through the previous decade - winning 87% of their fixtures, as well as lifting the global trophy on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the hierarchical structure changed in the world sport.

The All Blacks defeated the Springboks in their opening match of the championship in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in the championship match.

Since then, the All Blacks' winning percentage has dropped to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their following games but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.

Direct Competition

During the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have won five of the past fixtures between the opponents, including success in the 2023 World Cup final.

While securing their latest regional title, the Springboks inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in their home ground, a score which has triggered another wave of controversy regarding the progress of the team under Robertson.

Maybe most jarring for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their traditional strength, the Springboks' triumph has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their own side.

Style Evolution

During the period when the All Blacks were at the height of their abilities a decade past, they were a clinical transition team able of shredding opponents from all areas of the field and at all times of the match.

Today, their attacking style is less defined as Robertson, who has handed out 19 debuts during his 24 months in command, tries to primarily create the basic core elements of a competitive squad.

It has recently revealed that the backroom staff member responsible for attack, their offensive coordinator, will leave his role after the autumn tour, making him the second member of Robertson's ticket to leave after previous staff member walked away last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not just Robertson's success, but his methodology, that was expected to transfer from his former team when he took over after the recent tournament but, as yet, the two aspects continue to be a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

After private equity firm Silver Lake bought a stake in All Blacks in 2022, the following communication mentioned the "search of international expansion" for the team.

That task has perhaps been more challenging by the absence of a crossover star. Ardie Savea and the group of family members continue to be household names in the game, but the concentration of stars has never been spread wider. The captain is the single All Black to win international honors in the recent years, in contrast to 10 in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, initiatives have been made to establish the All Blacks into new territories.

The first leg of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to the Irish capital but the American city, a revisit to the location where Ireland secured a historic win in the contest in previous seasons.

Following the reduction of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have also