Scotland fightback not enough as New Zealand run out winners at Murrayfield

Join the Miguel Delaney Inside Football Get exclusive insights and behind-the scenes access to the Miguel Delaney: inside newsletter Football Join the Miguel Delaney Inside newsletter Football newsletterScotland’s search for a first-ever win over New Zealand continues after their spirited second-half fightback ultimately proved fruitless in a 25-17 defeat at Murrayfield.Gregor Townsend’s side went in 17-0 down at the break despite being twice held up over the line.The Scots roared back to make it 17-17 by the hour mark after tries from Ewan Ashman and Kyle Steyn, and they looked the likelier winners as the match moved into the fourth quarter.But the All Blacks – who had three players yellow-carded – regained their composure in the closing stages, with a try and a long-range penalty from substitute Damian McKenzie taking the game away from the hosts, who have now failed to win this fixture in 33 attempts over 120 years.The visitors silenced the home support by taking the lead within three minutes. Josh Lord, a second-rower, produced a one-handed pick-and-go off the halfway line. He then drove forward and released Cam Roigard to score through a gap on the left. Beauden Barrett converted. The Scots responded strongly and asked questions of their visitors without showing the conviction to get themselves on the scoreboard. Beauden Barrett converted. The Scots responded well and asked many questions to their All Blacks opponents, but they never showed the conviction needed to score. Shortly after Scotland’s Darcy Graham had been held up by brilliant All Blacks defence in the 29th minutes, the visitors extended their lead to 10 points when Barrett scored a penalty at close range in the 30th minute. The Kiwis extended their lead by 17 points after Rory Hutchinson was held up on the line. Will Jordan scored left-handed, after Wallace Sititi had set him up. Barrett kicked the conversion. However, the Scots began the second half strong. Hooker Ashman scored off the back of a lineout maul in the 46th minute, with Finn Russell adding the extras.The resurgent hosts were further buoyed by the sight of All Blacks captain Ardie Savea being yellow-carded for trying to pull the maul down.This time the Scots made the extra man count as Steyn bounded over on the left after being set up by Blair Kinghorn’s pass in the 51st minute. Russell was again on point with the conversion.The Scots’ tails were up and they looked set to go ahead in the 56th minute, only for Roigard to make a brilliant tackle to stop Graham grounding the ball on the right.Russell then levelled a pulsating encounter with a penalty on the hour mark, setting up a grandstand finale. It looked like the pendulum was swinging in the Scots’ favour, particularly when Sititi became the third New Zealand player to be yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on in the 61st minute.But the visitors weathered the Scottish storm and got their noses back in front in the 73rd minute when McKenzie produced a brilliant finish on the left.The try-scorer slightly blotted his copy-book by making a mess of his conversion attempt, but he made no mistake six minutes later when launching a penalty from 45 metres between the posts to put the outcome beyond doubt.
2025-11-08 17:35:54