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

Fixtures against the Irish team, the Scottish side, the English squad and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the next four weekends but, beyond the possibility to join the teams of previous successful tours in the annals of rugby, the matches will be used as a measure to assess the improvement of the squad under a manager now 24 months into from taking up the reins.

Present Difficulties

Concerns over a shortage of an clear playing identity, continuing controversies over player choices and exits from the coaching ticket have all fueled the feeling that the most recognisable team in the game is now one in a time of change.

Most importantly, it is the decline in performances from a previous peak set between the global tournaments of 2011 and 2019 that has led some to speculate that we have moved out of the age of All Black exceptionalism.

Team Record

Prior to their journey for the European tour, it was revealed that in the coming year, in the absence of the southern hemisphere competition, New Zealand will play the Springboks in a summer series called 'a tour like no other'.

Historically the rugby's premier teams, there is little doubt over who has currently outperformed of what organizers have labeled 'The Premier Rivalry'.

Over the past seven years, the Springboks have secured a couple of World Cups, three Rugby Championships and a tour against the British and Irish Lions to be regarded as the team of their era.

The All Blacks have continued to defeat the Irish team when it counts most, overcoming their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of the past two tournaments. They have, at the same time, lost just a pair of the last fixtures with England, have beaten Wales in every encounter since the sixties and have remained unbeaten by Scotland.

Shifting Balance

But the decline of their position as the sport's measure of excellence will continue to rankle.

Whereas the All Blacks dominated through the last ten years - securing eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as lifting the global trophy on two occasions - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be seen as when the balance of power shifted in the world sport.

New Zealand beat the Springboks in their opening match of the championship in Japan, but it was the Boks' who were finally victorious in the final.

After that event, the All Blacks' victory ratio has fallen to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in 10 of their next 26 Test matches but, commencing of 2023, have won at a rate (eighty-three percent) to match even the former Kiwi champions.

Head-to-Head

Throughout the same period, the Springboks have won the majority of the seven meetings between the sides, featuring triumph in the 2023 World Cup final.

While securing their latest southern hemisphere crown, South Africa administered a significant beating on the New Zealand team courtesy of overwhelming display in their home ground, a score which has ignited another round of controversy about the direction of the squad under their leader.

Perhaps most jarring for followers of the New Zealand team will be that, combined with their usual power, the Springboks' triumph has come with an attacking verve more commonly connected with their opposition team.

Team Identity

During the period when the New Zealand team were at the zenith of their abilities 10 years ago, they were a devastating offensive machine able of destroying rivals from every section of the field and at any moment of the match.

Now, their playing philosophy is less defined as Robertson, who has awarded 19 debuts during his two years in charge, tries to primarily create the basic core elements of a successful side.

It has already been confirmed that the assistant coach responsible for offense, Jason Holland, will exit the team after the fall series, making him the second member of management team to exit after another coach departed last year after just limited matches.

Expectations vs Reality

It was not just his winning record, but his methodology, that was predicted to transfer from Crusaders when he assumed control after the global competition but, so far, the two aspects remain a work in progress.

Business Factors

When financial organization investors acquired shares in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the subsequent announcement discussed the "search of international expansion" for the team.

That objective has possibly been more challenging by the lack of a international celebrity. Ardie Savea and the trio of Barrett brothers are still well-known figures in the sport, but the distribution of stars has never been spread wider. The captain is the only All Black to receive international honors in the past six seasons, in comparison to ten awards in 13 years between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Instead, attempts have been undertaken to establish the New Zealand team into emerging regions.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings the All Blacks not to Dublin but the American city, a return to the location where Ireland achieved a landmark success in the match in previous seasons.

Following the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the New Zealand team have furthermore