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Pursuing what would be just a fifth tour victory in their illustrious legacy, the New Zealand side have traveled to Europe at an crucial period.

Fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, the English squad and the Welsh team await Scott Robertson's side across the coming month but, quite aside from the opportunity to match the squads of 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010 in the history books, the games will be used as a benchmark to measure the progress of the squad under a head coach now well established from assuming control.

Present Difficulties

Questions over a lack of an clear playing identity, enduring debates over selection and exits from the management team have all added to the feeling that the best-known side in the game is presently one in a state of flux.

Most significantly, it is the drop in outcomes from a previous peak set between the World Cups of the last decade that has led some to speculate that we have moved out of the age of Kiwi superiority.

Team Record

Prior to their travel for the northern hemisphere, it was announced that during the following season, in the non-existence of the southern hemisphere competition, the All Blacks will play the Springboks 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 '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 generation.

The All Blacks have maintained to beat Ireland when it counts most, overcoming their next challengers in the World Cup quarter finals of recent years. They have, meanwhile, lost just two of the past 21 meetings with the English team, have beaten Wales in all matches since the sixties and have always been victorious by Scotland.

Changing Dynamics

But the loss of their status as the sport's measure of excellence will remain frustrating.

While the New Zealand team dominated through the previous decade - securing eighty-seven percent of their Test matches, as well as lifting the World Cup on several instances - the global tournament of the previous competition can now be regarded as when the hierarchical structure moved in the world sport.

New Zealand beat South Africa in their initial fixture of the tournament in the host nation, but it was the South Africans who were eventually successful in the final.

Since then, the New Zealand's winning percentage has fallen to seventy-one percent. The Springboks themselves were defeated in ten of their following games but, since the start of 2023, have achieved victory at a percentage (83%) to match even the previous All Blacks side.

Head-to-Head

Over the comparable duration, the South African team have won the majority of the seven meetings between the teams, featuring triumph in the recent championship match.

During their pursuit of their latest regional title, South Africa inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on the New Zealand team courtesy of dominant performance in Wellington, a result which has ignited another round of debate concerning the progress of the team under their leader.

Maybe most concerning for followers of the All Blacks will be that, allied to their traditional strength, South Africa's triumph has come with an attacking verve more usually associated with their traditional rivals.

Style Evolution

When the New Zealand team were at the height of their powers in previous eras, they were a ruthless counter-attacking unit capable of dismantling opponents from every section of the pitch and at any point of the contest.

Today, their attacking style is unclear as the coach, who has awarded multiple new players during his two years in command, tries to first establish the basic foundations of a competitive squad.

It has previously announced that the supporting manager responsible for scoring, their offensive coordinator, will depart his position after the autumn tour, becoming the second member of management team to depart after previous staff member departed last year after just five Tests.

Performance Gap

It was not only his winning record, but his approach, that was predicted to translate from previous club when he assumed control after the recent tournament but, so far, both continue to be a ongoing development.

Business Factors

Following investment group investors invested capital in New Zealand rugby in 2022, the following communication mentioned the "pursuit of international expansion" for the brand.

That task has maybe been more challenging by the shortage of a global icon. The current captain and the trio of Barrett brothers are still recognizable personalities in the sport, but the spread of key individuals has never been spread wider. Their leader is the single New Zealand player to earn global recognition in the current era, in opposition to ten awards in over a decade between 2005 and '07.

International Growth

Instead, initiatives have been undertaken to introduce the New Zealand team into previously untapped markets.

The opening phase of this European campaign brings New Zealand not to Dublin but the American city, a comeback to the Soldier Field venue where the Irish team achieved a historic win in the match during past tours.

Since the easing of health protocols, the New Zealand team have furthermore