Player Ratings: Scotland

OPINION: Scotland’s 120-year search for a win over New Zealand goes on despite a thunderous comeback in a pulsating contest at Murrayfield.

Gregor Townsend’s side fought back from a 17-0 half-time deficit to draw level with Finn Russell’s penalty on the hour, but couldn’t maintain their momentum in the final quarter as the All Blacks secured a 21st successive victory in the history of the fixture.

Bryn Palmer rates the Scotland players:

15. Blair Kinghorn – 7
Restored at No.15, the Test Lion fumbled an inside ball from Darcy Graham early on when Scotland appeared to have broken the NZ line, but thereafter showed his class – an out-the-back offload to Graham and a classy pass under pressure to send Steyn in for his try the highlights. But his attempt at bundling McKenzie into touch, for what proved the winning score, was not his finest hour.

14. Darcy Graham – 7
Lively as ever. Popped up on both wings, always looking to make things happen. Denied a try when he was held up over the line, and was blatantly tripped by Carter as he hacked a loose ball clear, earning the All Blacks wing a yellow card. But ultimately couldn’t add to his 34 Test tries.

13. Rory Hutchinson – 7.5
Winning only a 10th cap since 2019 and making just his sixth Test start, the Saints centre showed some lovely touches in midfield, linking well with Russell and Tuipulotu. Held up over the line by three New Zealand tacklers when he might have shifted the ball on, but a fine display nonetheless.

12. Sione Tuipulotu – 7.5
Captain for a sixth time, and a fourth on his own, Tuipulotu led from the front, with 16 carries getting Scotland on the front foot and plenty of energy in defence too.

11. Kyle Steyn – 7
Picked ahead of joint-record try-scorer Duhan van der Merwe, Steyn justified his selection with a fine all-round display. A threat chasing high kicks and bailed Scotland out with a try-saving tackle on Tupaea in the first half. Took his try well in the left corner – his 15th in 26 Tests.

10. Finn Russell – 6
Superb flat passes brought both wingers into the game early, but the victim of a crunching hit, which saw him require treatment to his left leg on three occasions and didn’t look wholly comfortable thereafter, but continued to probe and create until he was removed late on. Part of a double-tackle to deny Tupaea a first-half try.

9. Ben White – 7
Another composed and efficient outing from the Toulon scrum-half, whose box-kicks gave Scotland’s chasers plenty of opportunities to contest. Slick service from the base and a fine 54 minutes before giving way to Dobie.

1. Pierre Schoeman – 7.5
A typically ebullient shift from the Lions loosehead. Scrummaged well, earning one penalty out of Newell, and a busy presence in the loose with nine carries and eight tackles before giving way to Sutherland. Then returned.

2. Ewan Ashman – 7
Coming into his own as Scotland’s first-choice hooker. Hit all his targets at the lineout, scrummaged well and a busy presence around the field. Managed to ground the ball on the end of a lineout maul to collect his 10th Test try, one short of the Scotland record for a forward.

3. D’Arcy Rae – 6.5
Replacing the 75 caps of the missing Zander Fagerson with Rae’s 73 minutes of Test rugby was a pre-match concern. Although the All Blacks appeared to be getting a nudge on early on, Rae held his end up. Can be happy enough with his 54 minutes in only his second Test start.

4. Scott Cummings – 7.5
Offered himself tirelessly as a carrier, varying his angles to change the point of attack. Part of an efficient lineout unit that won all but two balls on their own throw and also nicked one of New Zealand’s, and made his fair share of tackles as usual.

5. Grant Gilchrist – 7
The old warhorse was prominent early on with several big carries into contact, and took his fair share of lineout ball as well as contributing nine tackles in a solid outing.

6. Gregor Brown – 8.5
Huge shift from the Glasgow forward, who fully justified his selection ahead of the likes of Jamie Ritchie and Andy Onyeama-Christie. A huge tackle on Tupaea prevented what looked like an inevitable second All Blacks try, one of 14 hits he made in the first half alone and 17 in all. Also, a safe source of lineout ball at the tail. Another big step in a burgeoning Test career.

7. Matt Fagerson – 6
Usually deployed at blindside or No.8, Fagerson’s 58th cap was the first time he had started a Test at openside, where he has operated sporadically for Glasgow. His knock-on spoiled a promising early attack, and not as influential as usual, although he still put in 10 tackles.

8. Jack Dempsey – 8
In just his third competitive outing after seven months out, Dempsey carried hard from the first kick-off and continued to get Scotland on the front foot at regular intervals, with 18 in all. One rampaging burst deep into New Zealand territory brought Murrayfield to its feet. One of his best displays in a Scotland shirt.

Replacements:

16. George Turner – 5
Lineout wobbled slightly after his introduction, and couldn’t prevent McKenzie’s winning try when he looked to be in position to do so.

17. Rory Sutherland – 5
Had only been on for 13 minutes when he was forced off for another 10 for an HIA check. Returned for the last knockings, but little impact.

18. Elliot Millar Millas – 6
Showed up well with several strong carries after replacing Rae after 54 minutes.

19. Marshall Sykes – 6
Put himself about to good effect after taking over from Gilchrist, pouching lineout ball and making some big hits in defence.

20. Rory Darge – 6
Making his return after six weeks out with a knee injury, replaced Fagerson for the final quarter but, apart from one pass to release Brown, couldn’t influence proceedings to any great degree.

21. Josh Bayliss – 5.5
Replaced Dempsey for the final 15 minutes, but Scotland couldn’t kick on in the final quarter, and his main role was in defence, making seven tackles.

22. Jamie Dobie – 6
Unlucky not to start, Dobie kept the pace high, and the speed and length of his passing gave Russell more time, but not quite the impact Scotland might have hoped for.

23. Tom Jordan – NA
Replaced Russell for the final six minutes, by which time the All Blacks had regained the ascendancy.

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