New Zealand cruise to victory as Scotland fade at Murrayfield
Nations Championship
Scotland (21) 21
Tries: Ashman 3 Cons: Russell 3
New Zealand (24) 43
Tries: Sititi, De Groot, Taylor, Barrett 2, Moorby, Aumua Cons: McKenzie 4
Ruthless New Zealand blew Scotland away in a high-class, seven tries to three Nations Championship victory at Murrayfield.
Despite a historic first-half hat-trick from Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman, the All Blacks were mostly magnificent, unrelenting and classy. It was the 34th Test between the nations and New Zealand’s tally has yet another win – 32 now, with two draws going back to 1905.
Wallace Sititi scored early in a breathless first half. Ashman responded. Ethan de Groot and Codie Taylor hit back to make it 17-7 at the end of the first quarter.
New Zealand’s Peter Lakai was binned and Ashman got his second while he was off. The sensational Beauden Barrett scored the first of his double straight after. Then, as the bonkerdom stretched on, Sititi was yellow-carded and Ashman made the All Blacks pay with his hat-trick try.
Only three points divided them at the break, but the All Blacks outclassed Scotland thereafter. Josh Moorby, Beauden Barrett again and Asafo Aumua struck in the second half. Scotland were beaten out the gate in the end.
We hoped for a classic and a classic it was, with bells on. If only for 40 minutes. Beyond that thrilling opening spell it was one-way traffic, a vicious exhibition of All Black class and might.
Just like last year, when New Zealand drew first blood, the visitors came roaring out, punishing a penalty given away cheaply with a piece of trickery at a close-range line-out that bamboozled the Scots.
A couple of dummy runners broke away and took enough of Scotland’s attention with them. Sititi thundered through a gap to score.
Thus began the ding-dong. Kyle Rowe’s magnificent 50-22 gave Scotland the field position to strike off a driven line-out – Ashman driving over 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. There’s only so much of that you can soak up, though. The visitors looked lethal from all corners. Beauden Barrett’s surge downfield, hotly pursued by Matt Fagerson, was the catalyst for their second score.
Fagerson was done on the floor, New Zealand went to touch and De Groot went over the line. McKenzie converted; New Zealand by five. And, soon, New Zealand by 10. Another Scotland penalty was punished to the max, the All Blacks executing from the resultant line-out maul. Taylor getting it down this time.
