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It hasn’t been a great week for world No.1 New Zealand teams – as if the All Blacks coughing up their first loss to Ireland in more than a century in Chicago wasn’t enough, this morning the Kiwis drew with Rugby League minnows Scotland in the third of week of Four Nations.
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The Scottish were this year’s ‘fourth team’ invited to the Four Nations tournament, playing alongside the tradition powerhouses of world rugby league in Australia, England and the Kiwis.
These invited teams have never managed to get a win over any of the established powers in five editions of the tournament – and that hasn’t changed, but Scotland came mightily close in recording this draw.
Scotland held a 12-10 lead with six minutes to go in the match before Gerard Beale added two tries to New Zealand’s total, moving them out to a six-point advantage.
New Zealand looked set to record a win, albeit one by a much lower margin than was expected, until a late try from Euan Aitken, which was then converted by Scottish captain Danny Brough, levelled the scores.
“I’m as proud as anything,” said Scotland coach Steve McCormack.
“Not only that never-say-die attitude from our lads but just the manner in which we got that result.
“We’re also a bit disappointed that we didn’t win. The players were sensational. We’ve played against the world’s best team tonight with a young team.”
Brough admitted that he had needed pain-killing injections to play, but said it had been worth it to achieve a historic result.
“I probably shouldn’t have played,” he said. “I can’t put my heel down now. But it was worth it with the effort the boys put in.”
New Zealand still stand a strong chance of making the Four Nations final despite the disappointing result – they’ll get through to play Australia so long as the Kangaroos defeat England on Monday morning (AEDT).
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