All Blacks extend 120-year unbeaten streak over Scotland

MATCH REPORT: A dominant second-half display ensured New Zealand maintained their flawless record against Scotland, securing a commanding 43-21 victory at Murrayfield on Saturday.

New Zealand fullback Beauden Barrett scored two of the All Blacks’ seven tries as they continue their dominance in a rivalry spanning more than a century.

Ewan Ashman gave Scotland hope of a first win over New Zealand by scoring a hattrick in an extraordinary first half that ended with the All Blacks only narrowly in front at 24-21.

But improved New Zealand discipline enabled them to pull clear with three tries after the interval while denying Scotland a score in the second half.

The victory extends New Zealand’s winning record against Scotland to 32 victories in 34 meetings, with two draws, dating back to 1905.

It also keeps Dave Rennie’s side unbeaten in the Nations Championship and level on points with frontrunners South Africa.

It has been a difficult week for the All Blacks, who lost their head of security, Logan Cadwallader.

Cadwallader, who had been part of the All Blacks environment for 10 years, passed away following a medical event at the team hotel in Edinburgh on Sunday morning.

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The All Blacks drew first blood at Murrayfield, but Scotland responded with a powerful display of their own as the two sides traded tries in an entertaining first half.

A clever New Zealand line-out carved open the Scottish defence, allowing No. 8 Wallace Sititi to dive over for the opening try.

Scotland hit back almost immediately, also from a line-out. However, unlike the visitors, the hosts used their rolling maul to good effect, with Ewan Ashman powering over.

Finn Russell added the conversion to give Scotland a 7-5 lead.

In the 12th minute, the All Blacks looked dangerous with ball in hand, with Will Jordan finding space down the right wing. However, he was hauled down just short of the Scottish tryline.

New Zealand were relentless on attack, with their offloads causing major problems for Scotland. After multiple phases, they eventually breached the Scottish defence when Ethan de Groot crossed for the try. Damian McKenzie slotted the conversion to restore the All Blacks’ lead at 12-7.

Rennie’s troops immediately extended their advantage to 10 points, with Codie Taylor powering over following another dominant rolling maul.

Scotland finally managed to work their way out of their own half and put together a promising attacking move inside the All Blacks’ 22.

However, the visitors were reduced to 14 men when Peter Lakai was shown a yellow card.

Despite being down to 14 men, New Zealand held firm, with Josh Moorby’s incredible try-saving tackle on Huw Jones keeping Scotland at bay.

The hosts eventually got their five-pointer, with Rory Darge and Sione Tuipulotu at the heart of the build-up before Ashman crashed over for his second try.

However, New Zealand were simply too effective inside Scotland’s red zone. Their attack was razor-sharp, and Beauden Barrett ran a beautiful line to race through and score unopposed, with Scotland’s defence stretched. McKenzie added the extras to extend the lead to 24-14.

While their attacking play was impressive, discipline remained a concern for the All Blacks, who were reduced to 13 men when Sititi was shown a yellow card for an infringement at the breakdown.

And in what had become a familiar pattern in the first half, Ashman struck again, diving over at the back of a rolling maul to complete his hattrick. Russell added the conversion to narrow the deficit to just three points, leaving New Zealand with a slender 24-21 lead at half-time.

Back to their full complement of 15 players in the second half, the All Blacks wasted little time in reasserting their authority.

They kept Scotland pinned inside their own half and, following another dominant scrum, spread the ball wide to Moorby, who had a simple finish in the corner to extend the lead to 29-21.

Scotland then lost their captain, Sione Tuipulotu, who was shown a yellow card.

New Zealand immediately capitalised. Following a line-out, the visitors put together several phases before Beauden Barrett crossed for his 50th try in an All Blacks jersey.

McKenzie added the conversion to stretch the advantage to 36-21.

The All Blacks were now firmly in control and continued to turn the screw.

A brilliant line-out move, which started with a one-handed catch from Tupou Vaa’i, ended with replacement hooker Asafo Aumua bursting through a gap to score New Zealand’s seventh try.

It was one-way traffic in the second half, with New Zealand dominating the final stanza, adding 19 points while keeping Scotland scoreless to complete a comprehensive victory.

Player of the match: The All Blacks fullback delivered a polished performance, using his experience and rugby intelligence to take pressure off Damian McKenzie. Barrett ran some outstanding lines to score two tries and also produced a crucial defensive intervention to deny Kyle Steyn a try. A classy all-round display from the veteran No. 15.

The scorers:

For Scotland:
Tries: Ashman 3
Cons: Russell 3

For New Zealand:
Tries: Sititi, De Groot, Taylor, B.Barrett 2, Moorby, Aumua
Cons: McKenzie 3

Yellow cards: Peter Lakai (New Zealand, 23 – repeated infringements), Wallace Sititi (New Zealand, 32 – repeated infringements), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland, 50 – repeated infringements)

Scotland: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (Captain), 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Gregor Brown, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Rory Sutherland,
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 George Horne, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Blair Kinghorn.

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacement: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 George Bower, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Christian Lio-Willie, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Rieko Ioane.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy) & Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)