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Ill-disciplined All Blacks survive Scottish fightback

Ill-disciplined All Blacks survive Scottish fightback
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Ill-disciplined All Blacks survive Scottish fightback



Damian McKenzie’s try six minutes from time helped preserve New Zealand’s unbeaten record against Scotland.

The All Blacks withstood a second-half fightback to win 25-17 at Murrayfield.

In a match marking the centenary of Murrayfield, Scotland trailed 17-0 at half time after New Zealand’s Cam Roigard and Will Jordan scored tries converted by Beauden Barrett, who also kicked a penalty.

Scotland hit back after the break with 17 points from converted tries by Ewan Ashman and Kyle Steyn and fly-half Finn Russell’s penalty to set up a tense final quarter.

Replacement back McKenzie’s try edged New Zealand ahead before his 79th-minute penalty ensured the All Blacks 31st win in 33 Tests against Scotland over 120 years.

Victory also maintained New Zealand’s bid for a Grand Slam tour of wins over the home nations – England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

It took New Zealand just three minutes to open the scoring.

Lock Josh Lord, in for captain Scott Barrett, injured in last weekend’s 26-13 win over Ireland in Chicago, burst through a ruck and stood up Scotland fullback Blair Kinghorn before releasing scrumhalf Roigard for a try between the posts.

Flyhalf Beauden Barrett converted and New Zealand led 7-0.

Barrett’s close-range penalty on the half hour after Scotland strayed offside extended New Zealand’s to 10-0.

The All Blacks were reduced to 14 men when Leroy Carter was yellow-carded for a deliberate trip on opposing wing Darcy Graham seven minutes before the interval.

Scotland pressed for a score to get back into the game but outside centre Rory Hutchinson was held up over New Zealand’s tryline.

The All Blacks punished Scotland’s failure to take their chances with a try on the stroke of half time.

New Zealand broke down the blindside, with Wallace Sititi beating Graham before, with Kinghorn again in no-man’s land, releasing Jordan for the impressive full-back’s 44th try in 52 Tests.

Barrett added the extras and New Zealand were in command at 17-0.

Scotland gave themselves hope in the 46th minute when hooker Ashman got the ball down for a try converted by Russell.

All Blacks captain Ardie Savea was shown a yellow card for trying to halt Scotland illegally.

Scotland made their advantage count when wing Kyle Steyn, preferred by coach Gregor Townsend to joint record try-scorer Duhan van der Merwe, went over, following a powerful carry from skipper Sione Tuipulotu and a pass from Russell, for a 51st-minute try.

Russell converted and New Zealand’s lead had been cut to just three points to the delight of a raucous Murrayfield.

It the looked like Scotland wing Darcy Graham was in for a try at the corner but he dropped the ball diving over the line under pressure from Roigard’s superb cover tackle.

Russell’s penalty levelled the match at 17-17, with Sititi then receiving New Zealand’s third yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.

New Zealand replacement McKenzie’s superb long-range kick left the All Blacks just metres away from Scotland’s line.

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The All Blacks declined a kickable penalty in favour of a close-range lineout and, with the ball worked across field, McKenzie scooped a loose pass off the turf and kept his balance as Kinghorn and George Turner closed in for a try at the corner.

McKenzie could not convert his own score but soon made amends with a clinching penalty.

– AFP

Photo: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

 





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