We were hoping for a classic and it was a classic, with bells on. If only for 40 minutes. Beyond that thrilling opening period, it was one-way traffic, a vicious display of All Black class and power.
Just like last year, when New Zealand drew first blood, the visitors came out in force, punishing a cheaply awarded penalty with a close-range throw-in trickery that bamboozled the Scots. A few dummy runners broke away and brought with them enough attention from Scotland. Sititi thundered through a gap to score.
Thus began the ding-dong. Kyle Rowe’s magnificent 50-22 gave Scotland field position to score from a driven lineout – with Ashman crossing for the first of his three tries. Unlike his counterpart Damian McKenzie, Finn Russell converted. Scotland led by two.
New Zealand turned the screw again, forcing Scotland into big defensive set after big defensive set. However, there is only so much you can soak up. Visitors looked deadly from every corner. Beauden Barrett’s surge, keenly pursued by Matt Fagerson, was the catalyst for their second score.
Fagerson was done on the ground, New Zealand went to touch and De Groot crossed the line. McKenzie converted; New Zealand by five. And soon, New Zealand by 10. Another Scottish penalty was punished to the max, with the All Blacks executing the resulting lineout maul. Taylor gets away with it this time.
This all happened in the first trimester. Here we go. Lakai, the formidable opener, was taken out for persistent New Zealand offside. Huw Jones almost scored but was delayed. Scotland has returned. With a penalty advantage, Ashman drove through Sititi to score. Two for the whore. With Russell’s conversion, it was a three-point game.
Scotland needed to kick off but were denied. The wonderful Beauden Barrett won thanks to the enormous work of his pack; at first glance it is simple, but in reality, complex and beautiful. McKenzie restored the 10-point lead, but it didn’t last long.
Sititi was sent off for losing his footing. Scotland had a chance against the All Blacks 13 for a brief minute but could not break them down despite a painful attempt from Jones. Lakai came back to make it 15-14 – and that’s when Scotland struck.
It was that old reliable again, the lineout maul proving devastating. Ashman completed his hat trick. Thanks to a series of consecutive penalties and yellows, New Zealand got what they deserved. These cards cost them 14 points.
Seven tries in the first half and three points between them at the break. Now it was time for the Test Match animals to emerge. When they did, they wore New Zealand white rather than Scottish blue.
The All Blacks played those key minutes in the Scottish 22, causing errors, penalties and opportunities. After a scrum, Jordie Barrett’s pass found Moorby in space and he headed towards him. More ruthlessness. McKenzie converted; 29-21. And worrying.
More heat in New Zealand and more penalties in Scotland. Then, a yellow for Sione Tuipulotu. It could have been Ben White just as easily. The pressure from the visitors was simply suffocating.
With the captain off the field, New Zealand made – Quinn Tupaea to McKenzie and Beauden Barrett pay for his second of the day. A skill set through the roof.
McKenzie’s conversion made it 36-21. In the 50th minute, the match ended far too soon for Gregor Townsend’s team. To rub salt in the wound, Aumua produced a magnificent set piece to secure the seventh try; 43-21 and 19-0 in the second half.
Scotland had hopes of winning or, at the very least, putting New Zealand on the edge. The disturbing truth for Townsend and his players is that despite their excellence in the first half, they were totally dominated in the second half.
These All Blacks are much more formidable than the version that appeared at Murrayfield a year ago. Meanwhile, Scotland’s long, drawn out wait for glory against the Kiwis continues on and on.
Gn sports
