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Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their storied history, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an pivotal moment.

Matches against Ireland, Scotland, England and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the coming month but, quite aside from the possibility to equal the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the record books, the fixtures will be used as a yardstick to assess the development of the side under a leader now 24 months into from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Questions over a shortage of an distinctive approach, enduring debates over team picks and leavings from the coaching ticket have all fueled the perception that the most famous squad in the game is presently one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the decline in results from a historic high watermark set between the global tournaments of the last decade that has caused some to theorize that we have transitioned away of the era of All Black exceptionalism.

Team Record

Before their travel for the European tour, it was confirmed that next year, in the absence of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will meet South Africa in a warm-weather tour termed 'a tour like no other'.

In the past the rugby's premier teams, 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 won a two of global tournaments, three southern hemisphere titles and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the team of their generation.

The All Blacks have persisted to overcome the Irish team when it matters most, beating Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of 2019 and '23. They have, additionally, been defeated in just a couple of the last fixtures with the English team, have beaten the Welsh side in every encounter since the sixties and have never suffered defeat by Scotland.

Evolving Landscape

But the diminishment of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will persist as an irritation.

Although the New Zealand team excelled through the last ten years - winning 87% of their fixtures, as well as winning the Webb Ellis on multiple times - the global tournament of 2019 can now be seen as when the hierarchical structure shifted in the global game.

New Zealand defeated the Springboks in their opening match of the competition in the host nation, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in Yokohama.

After that event, the All Blacks' success rate has dropped to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to rival even the previous All Blacks side.

Recent Encounters

Over the equivalent timeframe, the Springboks have won the majority of the past fixtures between the sides, comprising success in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their latest continental championship, the Springboks administered a historic loss on the New Zealand team thanks to 36 unanswered second-half points in the capital, a score which has triggered another round of discussion concerning the progress of the team under the coach.

Maybe most troubling for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their characteristic physicality, South Africa's achievement has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their opposition team.

Style Evolution

During the period when the All Blacks were at the height of their capabilities in previous eras, they were a clinical transition team capable of destroying opponents from every section of the field and at all times of the match.

Currently, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has handed out multiple new players during his recent tenure in command, tries to initially build the more prosaic foundations of a competitive squad.

It has previously announced that the assistant coach overseeing attack, their offensive coordinator, will exit the team after the upcoming matches, becoming the second member of Robertson's ticket to depart after another coach left last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not only his winning record, but his style, that was predicted to translate from his former team when he took over after the recent tournament but, as yet, the two aspects are still a ongoing development.

Organizational Strategy

Following investment group Silver Lake acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in the past, the following communication mentioned the "pursuit of worldwide growth" for the team.

That task has perhaps been more challenging by the shortage of a global icon. Their key player and the collection of Barrett brothers remain household names in the sport, but the distribution of talented players has expanded significantly. Their leader is the sole All Black to win international honors in the past six seasons, in opposition to 10 in 13 years between previous generations.

Global Expansion

Alternatively, efforts have been undertaken to establish the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.

The opening phase of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland secured a landmark success in the fixture during past tours.

Following the easing of health protocols, the New Zealand team have furthermore