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Seeking what would be just a fifth tour victory in their storied history, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an pivotal moment.

Matches against the Irish team, the Scottish side, England and Wales await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, beyond the chance to equal the squads of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the fixtures will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the improvement of the team under a head coach now two years on from beginning his tenure.

Current Challenges

Questions over a absence of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over team picks and leavings from the management team have all added to the feeling that the best-known side in the sport is now 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 2011 and 2019 that has prompted some to speculate that we have evolved beyond of the age of All Black exceptionalism.

Recent History

Ahead of their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was revealed that during the following season, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will face South Africa in a summer series termed 'an unprecedented series'.

In the past the sport's top competitors, there is little doubt over who has recently got the better of what organizers have called 'The Ultimate Contest'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have secured a two of global tournaments, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the team of their era.

New Zealand have continued to beat Ireland when it is crucial, beating Saturday's opponents in the World Cup quarter finals of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a couple of the last fixtures with England, have beaten Wales in each game since the sixties and have always been victorious by Scotland.

Shifting Balance

But the decline of their standing as the game's gold standard will remain frustrating.

Although the All Blacks excelled through the last ten years - securing eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as claiming the global trophy on two occasions - the World Cup of 2019 can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape changed in the international rugby.

New Zealand overcame South Africa in their first game of the competition in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the championship match.

Since then, the All Blacks' winning percentage has fallen to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their next 26 Test matches but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a rate (83%) to rival even the former Kiwi champions.

Direct Competition

During the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have won five of the seven meetings between the sides, comprising success in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their latest continental championship, Rassie Erasmus' side administered a historic loss on the New Zealand team through 36 unanswered second-half points in their home ground, a outcome which has triggered another series of controversy regarding the development of the side under the coach.

Maybe most troubling for fans of the New Zealand team will be that, alongside their usual power, South Africa's achievement has come with an offensive flair more usually associated with their opposition team.

Playing Philosophy

At the time that the All Blacks were at the peak of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a clinical transition team capable of destroying opponents from every section of the playing surface and at all times of the game.

Currently, their attacking style is unclear as the coach, who has handed out numerous first caps during his 24 months in control, tries to primarily create the more prosaic core elements of a competitive squad.

It has previously announced that the supporting manager in charge of scoring, the current coach, will depart his position after the upcoming matches, becoming the second member of the coaching staff to leave after another coach walked away last year after just five Tests.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not just his winning record, but his style, that was predicted to carry over from Crusaders when he assumed control after the 2023 World Cup but, to date, both continue to be a ongoing development.

Commercial Considerations

Following financial organization Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in recent years, the ensuing statement mentioned the "search of international expansion" for the brand.

That task has possibly been harder by the absence of a global icon. The current captain and the trio of Barrett brothers are still recognizable personalities in the sport, but the concentration of talented players has become more diverse. Savea is the single All Black to earn World Player of the Year in the current era, in comparison to ten awards in multiple seasons between previous generations.

Global Expansion

Rather, attempts have been undertaken to establish the All Blacks into new territories.

The initial stage of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but the American city, a comeback to the stadium where Ireland secured a first ever victory in the contest nine years ago.

Since the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the All Blacks have furthermore