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Seeking what would be just a fifth northern hemisphere clean sweep in their legendary past, the All Blacks have traveled to Europe at an crucial period.

Matches against Ireland, the Scottish side, England and the Welsh team await the New Zealand team across the coming month but, beyond the chance to equal the teams of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a yardstick to evaluate the progress of the side under a leader now well established from beginning his tenure.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a lack of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over player choices and exits from the backroom staff have all fueled the sense that the most recognisable team in the game is now one in a time of change.

Most significantly, it is the decline in outcomes from a historic high watermark set between the World Cups of 2011 and 2019 that has caused some to speculate that we have evolved beyond of the period of All Black exceptionalism.

Recent History

Ahead of their journey for the northern hemisphere, it was announced that in the coming year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will play South Africa in a off-season matches dubbed 'a unique competition'.

Historically the rugby's premier teams, there is no question over who has currently outperformed of what organizers have called 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the South African team have secured a two of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a series against the British and Irish Lions to be viewed as the squad of their period.

New Zealand have continued to beat the Irish team when it counts most, defeating Saturday's opponents in the global competition of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a couple of the past 21 meetings with England, have overcome Wales in all matches since 1963 and have always been victorious by the Scottish team.

Evolving Landscape

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

Whereas the New Zealand team excelled through the last ten years - winning eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as claiming the Webb Ellis on several instances - the global tournament of 2019 can now be viewed as when the hierarchical structure shifted in the global game.

New Zealand beat the Springboks in their initial fixture of the championship in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were finally victorious in the final.

After that event, the All Blacks' success rate has dropped to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, since the start of last year, have won at a frequency (eighty-three percent) to match even the former Kiwi champions.

Recent Encounters

Over the equivalent timeframe, the 'Boks have won the majority of the recent encounters between the sides, featuring victory in the 2023 World Cup final.

In claiming their current regional title, South Africa inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks through overwhelming display in their home ground, a outcome which has sparked another series of discussion regarding the development of the team under the coach.

Maybe most jarring for fans of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their characteristic physicality, the Springboks' achievement has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their own side.

Style Evolution

At the time that the New Zealand team were at the height of their capabilities 10 years ago, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit equipped of shredding rivals from all areas of the playing surface and at any moment of the match.

Currently, their attacking style is unclear as the coach, who has awarded numerous first caps during his 24 months in control, tries to primarily create the basic foundations of a winning team.

It has previously announced that the backroom staff member overseeing scoring, the current coach, will exit the team after the fall series, becoming the next individual of the coaching staff to exit after Leon MacDonald departed last year after just limited matches.

Team Development

It was not merely his winning record, but his style, that was expected to carry over from his former team when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, so far, the two aspects continue to be a ongoing development.

Business Factors

Following private equity firm Silver Lake invested capital in All Blacks in 2022, the ensuing statement spoke of the "quest of new global opportunities" for the team.

That objective has perhaps been harder by the shortage of a international celebrity. Their key player and the collection of family members continue to be well-known figures in the game, but the distribution of key individuals has never been spread wider. Their leader is the single New Zealand player to earn international honors in the past six seasons, in comparison to ten awards in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

Worldwide Reach

Rather, initiatives have been implemented to establish the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.

The opening phase of this northern hemisphere series brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but Chicago, a revisit to the Soldier Field venue where Ireland obtained a landmark success in the fixture during past tours.

Following the relaxation of pandemic limitations, the New Zealand team have additionally