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Pursuing what would be just a fifth 'Grand Slam' in their legendary past, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an interesting juncture.

Matches against the Irish team, Scotland, England and Wales await the All Blacks across the coming month but, in addition to the opportunity to match the sides of previous successful tours in the history books, the matches will be used as a benchmark to evaluate the improvement of the squad under a manager now 24 months into from taking up the reins.

Present Difficulties

Doubts over a lack of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over selection and departures from the coaching ticket have all added to the perception that the best-known side in the game is presently one in a period of transition.

Most significantly, it is the drop in results from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to theorize that we have evolved beyond of the era of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Before their travel for the fall series, it was confirmed that in the coming year, in the lack of the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks will meet the Springboks in a warm-weather tour called 'an unprecedented series'.

In the past the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has recently got the better of what marketers have called 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have secured a couple of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the British and Irish Lions to be considered as the side of their generation.

The All Blacks have continued to overcome Ireland when it matters most, defeating this weekend's rivals in the global competition of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, lost just a couple of the last fixtures with the English team, have beaten the Welsh side in each game since over sixty years ago and have remained unbeaten by the Scottish team.

Changing Dynamics

But the loss of their position as the game's gold standard will continue to rankle.

Whereas the All Blacks reigned supreme through the last ten years - achieving eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as claiming the global trophy on several instances - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the hierarchical structure shifted in the world sport.

New Zealand overcame the Springboks in their first game of the tournament in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were ultimately triumphant in the final.

From that point, the All Blacks' winning percentage has fallen to 71%. The Springboks themselves lost 10 of their subsequent fixtures but, commencing of last year, have won at a percentage (83%) to compete with even the former Kiwi champions.

Recent Encounters

Throughout the same period, the South African team have secured victory in five of the seven meetings between the opponents, featuring success in the latest global tournament decider.

During their pursuit of their current regional title, Rassie Erasmus' side inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the All Blacks thanks to dominant performance in Wellington, a outcome which has ignited another series of discussion regarding the development of the side under Robertson.

Perhaps most concerning for fans of the All Blacks will be that, combined with their traditional strength, the Springboks' success has come with an offensive flair more typically linked with their opposition team.

Style Evolution

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the height of their capabilities a decade past, they were a devastating offensive machine able of destroying opponents from all areas of the field and at all times of the contest.

Now, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as the coach, who has given 19 debuts during his recent tenure in charge, tries to primarily create the more prosaic foundations of a competitive squad.

It has previously announced that the supporting manager overseeing offense, the current coach, will leave his role after the autumn tour, making him the additional person of management team to depart after Leon MacDonald walked away last year after just five Tests.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not only previous achievements, but his methodology, that was anticipated to translate from previous club when he began his tenure after the recent tournament but, to date, the two aspects continue to be a work in progress.

Business Factors

When financial organization Silver Lake acquired shares in All Blacks in recent years, the following communication discussed the "search of worldwide growth" for the organization.

That task has maybe been more challenging by the absence of a crossover star. The current captain and the collection of related players continue to be recognizable personalities in the game, but the distribution of stars has become more diverse. Savea is the only All Black to win international honors in the recent years, in comparison to 10 in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Rather, attempts have been undertaken to introduce the All Blacks into emerging regions.

The first leg of this 'Grand Slam' tour brings New Zealand not to the Irish capital but the American city, a revisit to the stadium where the Irish team obtained a historic win in the fixture in previous seasons.

Since the relaxation of health protocols, the All Blacks have additionally