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Key events
25 min: Held up! Oh, Jones looked certain to score! I thought he did after the quick manoeuvre from the penalty had him cantering onto the ball on the angle. But two defenders under the poles preventing the grounding.
Yellow card! New Zealand (Lakai, 24)
Much better from Scotland! Off the maul, they almost get there. But not quite so they reload. Back infield, Tuipulotu and then Z Fagerson have darts. Lakai slows it down but on they go. It’s flung to Dobie on the left wing but he’s bundled out man and ball. No drama though, Lakai is sin-binned and Scotland get to have another crack against 14 men.
22 min: Now Scotland get a penalty for off-side in NZ’s half after the kick-off. Good work from the backs to get it up there and more accurate cleaning from the forwards. Russell then pings it to the corner. Can Scotland respond?
TRY! Scotland 7-17 New Zealand (Taylor, 20)
The captain is over! That is brutally efficient, and why you can’t keep giving away penalties in your own half. The line-out is short and clean and the maul forms in a flash. At the back of it, Taylor is dragged over the line in the corner. DMac doesn’t have his kicking boots on as he misses another shot at goal.
19 min: Another penalty against Scotland! Their defence has been heroic but their discipline needs tightening. Darge holding on from the deck. So NZ get another line-out, five out.
TRY! Scotland 7-12 New Zealand (de Groot, 16)
They just don’t stop coming! Class from Beauden, quick thinking from Roigard and great strength from de Groot has New Zealand back ahead. It started with the pace of Beauden down the left tram who burst through a gap and chipped ahead. Then when Scotland rallied to clean up in their own 22 they gave away a penalty. Roigard tapped and went quickly and after one phase de Groot gathered and muscled over from close range. The conversion from D Mac opens the lead.
15 min: NZ are keeping the ball but Scotland are knocking them backwards. All the way back to halfway actually. Jordan is drilled by White who shows fantastic technique so B Barrett figures he might as well kick it downtown as his carriers are going nowhere. Russell returns the kick so NZ have to come again from their own half.
13 min: Held up in the corner! Scotland keep NZ at bay. Off the line-out, NZ went down the line, great hands and getting it to Jordan on the opposite wing in the right tram in no time. Jordan couldn’t find the try line so they came back the other way. Then back with Jordan through the middle. On they went, inching to the line and towards the left corner. One final carry with three Kiwi forwards involved but a combination of Dempsey and White kept the ball off the floor. Wonderful defence.
10 min: Another penalty for New Zealand. This time after a Scot didn’t release as the Kiwis were building down the left. So McKenzie kicks it out, on Scotland’s 22 on the left, to set up a line-out. Ding-dong so far!
TRY! Scotland 7-5 New Zealand (Ashman , 8)
What a response! Ashman extends his record as his country’s highest scoring forward. From the line-out, they maul. It stalls but there’s a sign of dominance and a few backs are invited to join in with the shove. A maul of 13 men then gets to work and suddenly it’s hauling Ashman, who showed patience at the back, over for another try. Russell’s conversion from just to the right of the poles, nudges his team ahead.
7 min: Scotland have the ball after NZ kick from the restart. Russell flings a wide pass and Rowe has it before he kicks ahead. That is a lovely punt. In fact it’s a 50-22! Wonderful stuff. A shout out to the skipper, Tuipulotu, who wriggled out of some hefty pressure before then.
TRY! Scotland 0-5 New Zealand (Sititi, 4)
Bang! You just can’t switch off against this lot and Murrayfield is silenced. Simple line-out to the middle, Scotland brace for the maul but they splinter and suddenly a gap opens up for Sititi who receives the short pass after Holland gathered at the set piece. The conversion from the right tram is missed, but that’s a great start for the tourists.
3 min: New Zealand keep the ball so well off the line-out. A Scot strays off-side which means the Kiwis are playing with an advantage. Lovely hands from McKenzie keeps it moving to Moorby who gathers on the right wing and kicks ahead. That’s too long so McKenzie then kicks out to the corner to set up a line-out five out.
2 min: Scotland win the kick-off, run it back and then build inside NZ’s half. But down the right flank they’re turned over and J Barrett rakes a kick ahead. Scotland rally to mop up back inside their own 22. The clearing kick finds touch from White which means NZ will have the first throw, on their left and beyond Scotland’s 22.
Kick off!
We’re away! New Zealand kicking off.
Anthems done, now for the Haka, led by the skipper.
Just 10 minutes to go.
Here come the players, Codie Taylor leading out the All Blacks, Sione Tuipulotu heads the Scotland column.
Some pulled quotes from the Scottish camp this week:
“We are chasing greatness in that we’re trying to be the first of our kind.” – Sione Tuipulotu.
“It’s all very well having the belief, but we need to get the results from that.” – Finn Russell
“They seem to have really got their mojo back.” – Peter Horne, Scotland assistant coach, on the All Blacks.
I’ve just had a quick glance at the official Nations Championship website and the fans are not backing the home team.
Just 8% have predicted that Scotland will emerge triumphant.
I know they’re not favourites, but I think they have a better chance than that.
The expected score is Scotland 16-32 New Zealand.
There are a few key battles to look out for today.
Hard to nit start with the tussle of the tens. Damian McKenzie provides spark and thrust while Fin Russell brings the razzle dazzle. Whoever plays on the front foot will likely swing the contest.
Then there’s the muddle in midfield. Scotland have one of the best centre pairs in the game in Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu. Not that the New Zealand duo of Quinn Tupaea and Jordie Barrett are slouches. Honestly, it’s hard to split them.
Finally, and for me, tellingly, we come to the benches. This has been Scotland’s Achilles heel for some time, and perhaps the reason why they’ve not been able to mix it with the truly elite.
Blair Kinghorn brings some expereince and quality, but so does Rieko Ioene. Can the forwards on the wood for the home team match the power that’s coming from the visitors’ bench? The entire match could rest on that answer.
I’ve used the All Blacks throughout, but they’ll actually in white today.
Their kit will also feature a poppy for Armistice Day.
They’ll sport some black in the form of an armband following the sad passing of their head of security, Logan Cadwaller, in Edinburgh earlier this week.
Here are some randomly plucked stats and facts that either mean a lot or are nothing but guff:
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33 Tests: NZ 31 wins, two draws.
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Draws: 0–0 (1964); 25–25 (1983).
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Previous game: Scotland 17–25 NZ in 2025.
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Scotland levelled at 17–17 before a late McKenzie try.
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Last four margins: 8, 5, 8, 8 points.
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Scotland: 10 Glasgow starters.
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Russell winning cap 96; Beauden Barrett cap 148.
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Will Jordan: six tries in three Nations Championship games.
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NZ won all three July Nations Championship games.
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Both teams second in their hemisphere standings entering round four.
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Rennie replaced Townsend as Glasgow coach in 2017.
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Former Scotland captain Mike Blair now coaches the All Blacks attack.
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New Zealand wearing white, with black armbands.
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Scotland still seeking their first-ever victory over NZ.
New Zealand team
Dave Rennie makes just two changes to the All Blacks side that beat Australia 43-21 in Sydney last month. Ethan de Groot returns at loosehead, while Jordie Barrett is restored to midfield alongside Quinn Tupaea. Damian McKenzie continues at fly-half with Cam Roigard at scrum-half, while Beauden Barrett starts at full-back and the prolific Will Jordan remains on the wing.
Codie Taylor captains the side from hooker, with Scott Barrett and Fabian Holland in the second row. The back row of Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi remains intact. Jordan, who scored six tries in the opening three rounds of the Nations Championship, will again be a major attacking threat.
Asafo Aumua, Christian Lio-Willie and Anton Segner come onto the bench, alongside Rieko Ioane and Timoci Tavatavanawai. Rennie knows Scottish rugby well, having succeeded Gregor Townsend at Glasgow Warriors in 2017. Former Scotland captain Mike Blair is also part of his coaching staff.
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett; Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby, Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor (capt), Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland, Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi.
Replacement: Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Pasilio Tosi, Christian Lio-Willie, Anton Segner, Cortez Ratima, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Rieko Ioane.
Scotland team
Gregor Townsend has leaned heavily on familiarity, selecting 10 Glasgow Warriors players in his starting XV and 13 in the matchday squad. Captain Sione Tuipulotu is reunited with Huw Jones in midfield, while Finn Russell, winning his 96th cap, partners Ben White at half-back for the seventh time this year. Kyle Rowe starts at full-back ahead of Blair Kinghorn, who is among the replacements, with Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie completing an all-Glasgow back three.
Up front, Rory Sutherland gets the nod at loosehead ahead of Pierre Schoeman, with Ewan Ashman returning at hooker. Ashman, Scotland’s leading try-scoring forward, scored against the All Blacks in last year’s 25-17 defeat. Zander Fagerson completes the front row, while Glasgow teammates Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings form the second row. The back row combines Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey, providing a mixture of carrying power and breakdown expertise.
Scotland: Kyle Rowe; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Jamie Dobie; Finn Russell, Ben White; Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Pierre Schoeman, Will Hurd, Max Williamson, Josh Bayliss, George Horne, Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
Could today be the day?
Across 33 previous meetings, Scotland have never beaten the New Zealand All Blacks. There have neem two draws – 0-0 in 1964 and 25-25 in 1983 – both at Murrayfield. But that’s not the same as winning, and how sweet that single malt will taste if the lads get the job done today.
Their previous four matches have given them reason to be optimistic, but Scotland lost by eight points in each of them. It seems that no matter how hard the Scots try, they just can’t get within arm’s reach of the All Blacks.
As for their form coming into this one, New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup with another spanking of the Wallabies but lost Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry to South Africa, but Scotland haven’t played since July’s slugfest victory, by a score of 47-28, over Argentina in Cordoba.
Does any of the above matter? Does form or history count for much when 15 men representing their country take on another 15 men doing the same thing?
We’ll find out soon enough.
#Scotland #Zealand #Nations #Championship #rugby #union #live #Nations #Championship
