The All Blacks have relied on flashes of brilliance and desperate defence to see off Scotland 22-17 in a gripping Test in Edinburgh.
Led by emerging star winger Rieko Ioane, the world champions held out an audacious Scottish assault on Saturday, roared on by a deafening Murrayfield crowd.
The hosts dominated the opening 30 minutes and threatened a historic second-half revival but couldn’t stop New Zealand notching their fourth successive tour win.
Tries to Codie Taylor and Damian McKenzie soon after the break gave the All Blacks an element of control, having been flattered by the 3-3 halftime score.
But final-quarter yellow cards to flanker Sam Cane and prop Wyatt Crockett opened the door for a late Scottish comeback and a potential maiden win over New Zealand.
The match had a dramatic finish when outstanding Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg – a constant thorn in the Kiwis’ side – scorched towards the tryline, but lost the ball forward in a desperate tackle from Beauden Barrett.
Hogg’s enormous influence was matched by that of the 20-year-old Rieko Ioane, whose match statistics read five clean breaks, eight beaten defenders and three offloads, bettering every other player on the park.
His performance shone in an otherwise patchy All Blacks team, who were were shaded in the enthusiasm stakes by world No.6 Scotland.
The Scots largely had the better of the breakdown and held their own at the set-piece, but couldn’t finish a number of excellent attacking opportunities.
It was the All Blacks’ 10th win in 13 Tests this year but, like most of them, they did it the hard way. As with last week’s 38-18 win over France in Paris, discipline was a problem, conceding 16 penalties along with the yellow cards.
After living without the ball for the first 30 minutes and conceding an early Finn Russell penalty goal, the visitors slowly established a foothold in the Test and levelled the scores through a Barrett penalty near halftime.
The match’s most contentious moment came midway through the first spell when Hogg leapt for a high ball, making heavy contact with Waisake Naholo on the way down.
The crowd demanded a serious sanction against the All Blacks winger but television match official David Grashoff deemed the offence only worthy of a penalty.
Ioane’s influence was encapsulated soon after the break when he claimed a high kick, shrugged off two defenders and broke clear. He then rejoined play and threw a cut-out pass to put hooker Taylor across.
New Zealand pushed 12 points clear when Sonny Bill Williams set up a try from a pinpoint grubber kick for the second time in two Tests, finding McKenzie.
Scotland found a second wind when Gray stretched out to score, but Barrett’s clincher put the match beyond their reach and rendered Huw Jones’ try futile.
New Zealand’s last fixture of a 16-match season is against Wales next week.
Lara
Guest
100 kg plus of extra weight is a big advantage , but if you don't know how to use it, you are right there is no real advantage.
DC NZ
Guest
Hope the scots beat Australia sorry guys they deserve a nugget. But not the AB's who held out for a win and got another mental lesson pre Tokyo. Tick tick tick.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Scotland were missing 13 including their two starting tight heads (one injured early in the game). Given their relative lack of depth it was a remarkable performance.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
It helped that the Scots were down to the bare bones at tight head, though.
zhenry
Guest
In Super NZ teams play each other x3 and smash each other to bits, and of course the AU owned NZ media ramp up the clashes without any recognition of how destructive it is for the players and ultimately the ABs. Tew allows this Super schedule apparently without the slightest concern. Then NZ Super sides have a full on roll in the Super finals. SA do also but the pre final games involve a much less demanding schedule than the lot of the ABs. This is the main cause of AB fatigue on the end of year tour. Also this year it was straight into the Lions series after the Super finals; totally unrelenting and no wonder the AB tight 5 has been decimated.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Awesome tackle by Barrett. He gave him the touch line, and in doing so knew where Hogg was going. Then he went fairly high, and into a potential fend but it was astute as it took away the offload. Bang! Barrett saved the day !! The All Blacks are doing it hard but they are missing seven starters and two from the bench. Great depth is being achieved but it also shows the Super is perhaps demanding too much of our players. Playing each NZ twice is too much. They need to make it round robin and then they can rest their players more, and in return some of the lower Super teams have a chance. Just a bit more balance, cuz ;)
R2D2
Guest
The Scots ,if they can remain injury free will be a real threat in the 6N . Wouldn't like to play them at home with that crowd support , just brilliant.
Old Bugger
Guest
Scotland have always acknowledged through Jim Telfer and Ian McGeechan, to name a couple of stalwarts, that it is the Scots intention to imitate as much as possible, the NZ style of playing rugby. On Saturday, it was an eye-opener to see how skilfully, the ball was off-loaded, between Scotland players. It was non-stop that IMO, would've broken the defence of any test side. They didn't win but, they came very close to playing a fast open game, that was worthy of success. They will need to improve their set-piece lineout and scrum otherwise. Their contest against the WBs next weekend, will be the true indicator of how far, Scotland has progressed from the last meeting, between these sides. A win next week, will be a huge boost in confidence for them, going into the 6N.
Old Bugger
Guest
Kane Hames is the cause of such devastation.......just an awesome sight to see 7 players out-scrum 8 players.
Taylorman
Guest
Barretts try saving tackle was top shelf, running the speedster Hogg down enough to knock him out and spill it. Wed have been looking at a sideline conversion for the win if not for Barrett. Hes run the best down over the years. Its not just his pace but his application of it on the field.
Lara
Guest
The ABs 7 man scrum on their line in the second half, summed up the ABs never give an inch attitude. Scotland were always chasing after halftime , but the ABs always had enough in hand.
Bob
Guest
Makes a nonsense of the ascots ranking being below Australia. They should be 4th. Good for the game to see them resurgent especially given their supposed lack of depth. All round a good result for rugby and an enjoyable game to watch. AB's again imploding when the pressure is applied. Eddie Jones will be licking his lips
Jacko
Guest
i think they miss quite a few no 1 choices. The front row....Half the locks....a no 6...then there is Dagg and Smith and they are all on the injured list while Cruden etc have now moved on....This is the lack of players we all thought would happen straight after the WC but its probably been the worst injury year for the ABs we have had for a while. Scotland were very good tho and it is easy to see how they beat Aus when Aus were not going so well in June. Its great to see England, Ireland and Scotland on the UP and it would be good to see Wales get better than they are currently doing.
Larry Parallelogram
Guest
What is clearly apparent in all these games is how much the ABs miss Brodie Retallick, particularly his carrying.
Jp
Guest
Barring peru, it takes kiwis to beat kiwis.. how'd the wallabies go?
Andy
Guest
Jake how’d the wallabies go at home against Scotland? Did they have a good win or a good whinge last night ?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Tonga and Fiji... fair enough, the Kiwis just do not look like they have a plan. But humiliated by Peru? They are ranked 10th to our 144th... keep it in perspective buddy Out of curiosity, how did your team go?
rebel
Guest
Refused entry again?
Jake
Guest
Celebration time!! NZ finally won a football game. Sorely needed after repeated humiliations by Tonga, Fiji and Peru. The fragile kiwi ego has taken a battering this week. A lucky win over a better Scottish team.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
Another world class performance by the World Champion All Blacks - GOAT in all sports!