Player Ratings Scotland

OPINION: Scotland’s century old search for a win over New Zealand goes on as the longest winless run in Test rugby stretched to a 34th match after another dispiriting defeat at Murrayfield.

Gregor Townsend’s side were in touch at the interval after hooker Ewan Ashman collected a hat-trick of tries to keep the All Blacks within three points at 21-24.

But two quickfire scores early in the second half, including Beauden Barrett’s 50th Test try, put New Zealand clear and a sixth try from Asafo Aumua condemned Scotland, who failed to score a point in the second 40, to a 22nd successive defeat in the history of the fixture.

Rugbypass’ Bryn Palmer rates the Scotland players:  

15. Kyle Rowe – 5
Preferred to start over Blair Kinghorn and Tom Jordan, Rowe looked a threat when he did get on the ball, bursting onto Tuipulotu’s offload in the build-up to Ashman’s second try and tapping back a restart kick-off into the hands of Brown. But couldn’t involve himself enough and replaced by Kinghorn after 52 minutes.

14. Kyle Steyn – 6
Looked composed and competent in everything he did, whether covering back in defence, taking high balls or stepping in off his right flank to maintain attacks. But another who didn’t see enough ball in attack as Scotland struggled to stretch New Zealand out wide.

13. Huw Jones – 7
Preferred to the unlucky Rory Hutchinson, Jones showed his eye for a gap is still as keen as ever. Three times in the first half alone, he motored onto Russell’s cut-out passes to superb effect. Was unable to ground the ball over the line after a short burst close to the line.

12. Sione Tuipulotu – 5.5
Tuipulotu showed some lovely touches in attack, one offload to Rowe in particular, and took the fight to New Zealand with ball in hand. But was brushed off a little too easily by De Groot for New Zealand’s second try and a yellow card for an offside offence, with his side under the cosh, completed a disappointing day for the Scotland captain.

11. Jamie Dobie – 6
Picked ahead of Scotland’s top try-scorers Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe, Dobie saw little space in attack and couldn’t force his way over in the left corner in his one chance in the first half. Worked hard but couldn’t really impact the game to any great extent.

10. Finn Russell – 7
An early cross-kick to Steyn went straight into touch but found his attacking groove thereafter in his 100th Test – this was his 96th for Scotland, plus four for the Lions. A beautiful 50:22 grubber kick set the platform for Scotland’s opening try and he put Jones away on three occasions in the first half with some deliciously floated passes. Kicked three out of three at goal but off just after the hour.

9. Ben White – 7.5
Some sterling work in defence early on from the Toulon scrum-half, making a vital tackle on Sititi, holding up Jordan over the line and then driving the All Blacks wing backwards in another thumping tackle. His service was slick for the most part before giving way to Horne just after the hour.

1. Rory Sutherland – 4
Preferred to start the game ahead of Schoeman, the Borderer made half-a-dozen tackles in his 30 minutes on the field but the scrum creaked and only one carry in attack before departing before the interval.

2. Ewan Ashman – 8.5
Cemented his status as first-choice hooker with a stunning hat-trick of tries to extend his record for a Scottish forward to 17 tries in his 38th Test. Finished off driving mauls for his first and third, while a surge onto White’s short pass for his second showed his speed and power. One not-straight throw aside, also hit his targets at lineout time.

3. Zander Fagerson – 6
A big defensive shift with 13 tackles, including 11 in the first half alone, but not quite his usual output with ball in hand and he was pinged a couple of times at scrum-time, where New Zealand had the edge for the most part.

4. Gregor Brown – 7.5
The versatile Glasgow forward brought plenty of energy with his ball-carrying in a strong first half and won a vital turnover penalty on the floor at the end of it. Shifted to the back row early in the second half and kept hammering away, finishing as Scotland’s top carrier with 14 and also weighed in with 14 tackles in an industrious outing.

5. Scott Cummings – 6.5
A dominant force at the lineout, where he took responsibility for calling plenty of throws to himself and was at the epicentre of the driving mauls which led to Ashman’s first and third tries. Made his usual hefty contribution in defence too.

6. Matt Fagerson – 5.5
A couple of powerful bursts in the first half but not perhaps on the ball as much as he would have liked. Moved to No.8 early in the second period when Dempsey departed and made his fair share of tackles, but may find his place under threat from the emerging Liam McConnell.

7. Rory Darge – 7.5
Played a key part in keeping the move going for Ashman’s second try and maintained his energy levels for the full 80, linking attacks with 11 carries and putting in a big shift in defence, finishing as Scotland’s joint-top tackler with 14.

8. Jack Dempsey – 5.5
The former Wallaby admitted last week he lifts his game “to another level” when he faces the All Blacks but coming into this game after just one pre-season warm-up game in Japan, Dempsey didn’t have the impact he had in this fixture 12 months ago. A strong carry from the opening kick-off but only six in all. Weighed in with nine tackles but off after 52 minutes.

Replacements: 5
Pierre Schoeman, an early replacement for Sutherland, added greater punch with ball in hand while Josh Bayliss brought energy and athleticism to proceedings and Max Williamson a bit of heft. Blair Kinghorn’s range of passing added to Scotland’s attack but he copped a head-high tackle from Jordie Barrett when he threatened to escape. Tom Jordan had 20 minutes at flyhalf but the game was already heading south by the final quarter, when Gregor Hiddleston and George Horne also joined the fray.

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