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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 pivotal moment.

Matches against Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales await Scott Robertson's side across the upcoming weeks but, beyond the chance to join the squads of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a benchmark to measure the progress of the team under a leader now two years on from assuming control.

Team Issues

Questions over a absence of an identifiable style, ongoing discussions over player choices and exits from the management team have all fueled the feeling that the best-known side in the rugby is currently one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the dip in performances 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 age of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Prior to their journey for the fall series, it was confirmed that next year, in the lack of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will face the Springboks in a summer series termed 'an unprecedented series'.

Traditionally the game's two strongest sides, there is no question over who has lately dominated of what organizers have labeled 'The Ultimate Contest'.

In recent seasons, the Springboks have won a two of World Cups, three southern hemisphere titles and a competition against the northern hemisphere selection to be regarded as the squad of their period.

New Zealand have persisted to beat Ireland when it counts most, overcoming this weekend's rivals in the global competition of recent years. They have, at the same time, been defeated in just a pair of the recent encounters with the English team, have beaten Wales in each game since the sixties and have always been victorious by Scotland.

Changing Dynamics

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

Although the New Zealand team reigned supreme through the previous decade - securing eighty-seven percent of their international games, as well as lifting the Webb Ellis on several instances - the global tournament of 2019 can now be viewed as when the competitive landscape shifted in the international rugby.

The All Blacks beat South Africa in their opening match of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in the final.

After that event, the New Zealand's success rate has declined to 71%. South Africa themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, from the beginning of last year, have won at a percentage (83%) to match even the former Kiwi champions.

Head-to-Head

Over the same period, the South African team have won the majority of the recent encounters between the sides, comprising success in the latest global tournament decider.

In claiming their current regional title, South Africa delivered a significant beating on the New Zealand team courtesy of 36 unanswered second-half points in Wellington, a score which has ignited another series of controversy about the development of the side under their leader.

Perhaps most concerning for followers of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their characteristic physicality, South Africa's triumph 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 in previous eras, they were a devastating offensive machine equipped of destroying opponents from all areas of the field and at all times of the match.

Now, their offensive approach is more ambiguous as Robertson, who has awarded multiple new players during his two years in charge, tries to primarily create the fundamental building blocks of a winning team.

It has recently revealed that the supporting manager in charge of attack, their offensive coordinator, will leave his role after the fall series, making him the additional person of the coaching staff to leave after another coach departed last year after just five Tests.

Performance Gap

It was not just Robertson's success, but his style, that was anticipated to transfer from Crusaders when he began his tenure after the 2023 World Cup but, as yet, the two aspects continue to be a continuous improvement.

Commercial Considerations

Following investment group the company bought a stake in All Blacks in the past, the ensuing statement spoke of the "pursuit of international expansion" for the team.

That objective has maybe been more challenging by the lack of a global icon. Their key player and the trio of Barrett brothers remain recognizable personalities in the rugby, but the distribution of stars has become more diverse. Savea is the single New Zealand player to win global recognition in the recent years, in contrast to 10 in multiple seasons between the mid-2000s.

Worldwide Reach

Alternatively, efforts have been made to transplant the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.

The first leg of this northern hemisphere series brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a comeback to the stadium where Ireland obtained a first ever victory in the contest during past tours.

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