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Thread: Preview: Scotland v New Zealand

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    Veteran Contributor The EnForcer's Avatar
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    Preview: Scotland v New Zealand

    At first glance, the numbers point to a forgone conclusion: Scotland have never beaten the All Blacks, who cross Hadrian's Wall after a victorious stopover in London in what's been an already highly successful year.


    The standard fighting talk coming out of the Scotland camp this week has been the hosts explaining how they are confident they could upset the bookies by taking the game to the world's number one team.


    In all honesty, it's difficult to imagine Scotland ending their 105-year losing streak although they have every reason to be positive.


    Victory over the Wallabies this time last year proved that nothing is impossible and a series win in Argentina in June underlined the strength of Andy Robinson's squad.


    This is the strongest Scotland team we've seen in a long time but can the hosts realistically match the All Black juggernaut?


    Unfortunately, the spotlight this week once again fell upon the inconsistencies of the judicial process. While the merits of Keven Mealamu's suspension and subsequent appeal are not relevant here, all of Scotland will be hoping the media frenzy created by the whole palaver will have disrupted the All Blacks' front row.


    Scotland have a strong scrummaging unit and after England got the upper hand last week, Saturday's hosts will hope to find a chink in the All Blacks' armour.


    Another question mark hangs over how New Zealand's back-line will adjust to another reshuffle, with Sonny Bill Williams given a run at number twelve as Graham Henry and co. experiment to find where best to use the man-mountain. After a strong debut at Twickenham, don't expect SBW to be the weak link in a very well-oiled machine.


    Judging by the remarks coming out of the both camps this week, we should expect captain Mike Blair and his team playing positive rugby - weather permitting.


    The current laws require teams to keep ball in hand to be successful, but Scotland will be ill-advised to go for an all-out throw-it-about approach.


    The last time New Zealand visited Murrayfield (in 2008) they romped to a 26-point victory over a Scotland side that attempted an overly-expansive approach. Pragmatism will be the name of game.


    Players to watch:


    For Scotland: In the absence of the injured Alastair Kellock, 21-year-old Richie Gray has come on in leaps and bounds over the last few months. The Glasgow lock has impressed Andy Robinson enough to get the nod ahead of Test veteran Nathan Hines, which is testament to his potential. Three brief appearances off the bench in the Six Nations gave Gray a taste of Test rugby, now he will have to take his game to the next level.


    For New Zealand: The subject of much debate in the Land of the Long White Cloud, Isaia Toeava is nearing the last chance saloon. With no shortage of back-line options for the Kiwi selectors, "Ice Man" is in desperate need of a big performance.


    Head-to-head: Both sides have slightly changed back rows, but neither has been significantly weakened. Scotland's 'Killer Bs' are now the 'Two Bs and a V' and face a massive task against Kieran Read, Richie McCaw and Liam Messam. The latter, who made his Test debut against Scotland in 2008, gets a rare start and will be bubbling over.


    Previous results:


    2008: New Zealand won 32-6 at Murrayfield
    2007: New Zealand won 40-0 at Murrayfield
    2005: New Zealand won 29-10 at Murrayfield
    2001: New Zealand won 37-6 at Murrayfield
    2000: New Zealand won 48-14 in Auckland
    2000: New Zealand won 69-20 in Dunedin
    1999: New Zealand won 30-18 at Murrayfield
    1996: New Zealand won 36-12 in Auckland
    1996: New Zealand won 62-31 in Dunedin
    1995: New Zealand won 48-30 in Pretoria


    Prediction: Unless the heavens open to turn Murrayfield into a bog and the game into a lottery it should the same old story: Scotland to hang in there for the first hour before being outgunned in the last quarter. New Zealand by fifteen points!


    The teams:


    Scotland: 15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Rory Lamont, 13 Max Evans , 12 Graeme Morrison , 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Mike Blair (c), 8 Richie Vernon , 7 John Barclay , 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray , 3 Euan Murray , 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen .
    Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Nathan Hines , 19 Ross Rennie, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Ruaridh Jackson, 22 Nikki Walker.


    New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Isaia Toeava, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu/Hikawera Elliot, 1 Tony Woodcock.
    Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Daniel Braid, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Ma'a Nonu.


    Date: Saturday, November 13
    Kick-off: 17:15 GMT
    Venue: Murrayfield
    Weather: 7° C . Light rain showers.
    Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
    Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Robin Goodliffe (England)
    Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)

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    Just happy to be here

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    Legend Contributor Flamethrower's Avatar
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    I never would have guessed TEF would be so interested in a Kiwi training run.






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    Good luck to the Scots but sadly I think it's going to get ugly.

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    Immortal jargan83's Avatar
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    All those precious results are rather one sided

    Scotland

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    (formerly known as Coach) Your Humble Servant Darren's Avatar
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    Aw c'mon, be nice. They almost had them back in ... oh wait, no they didn't...

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    Immortal GIGS20's Avatar
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    1994, only four kicks out of it.


    (and I think kicks would have been the only chance)

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    C'mon the

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    Veteran Contributor normie's Avatar
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    Come on be reasonable, 30-18 is pretty close.... It is only 18 points....

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    Before we get too clever let's not forget Australia's last attempt...

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    Immortal jargan83's Avatar
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    I noticed the score in the All Blacks training run this morning

    Sonny Bill Williams plays starring role for All Blacks against Scotland at Murrayfield

    From correspondents in Edinburgh, Scotland

    New Zealand overpowered Scotland 49-3 at Murrayfield, with Sonny Bill Williams starring in just his second match in the All Blacks jumper.

    New Zealand scored seven tries with Hosea Gear and Mils Muliaina - on his record-equalling 92nd Test appearance - both crossing twice in a match with Williams repeatedly opening up Scotland's defence with deft passes.

    This win ensured New Zealand remained unbeaten against Scotland, with the 105-year-old record between the countries now showing 26 All Blacks wins in 28 Tests with two draws.

    Unfortunately for Scotland, New Zealand came into this fixture with a sense of grievance after feeling they'd let some chances go begging during last weekend's 26-16 win over England at Twickenham.

    New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, who like Muliaina equalled former skipper Sean Fitzpatrick's national Test record of 92 caps, told reporters: "We didn't let them off the hook as we did last week (against England).''

    All Blacks coach Graham Henry added a "rusty'' Scotland in what was their first Test since June had "really copped it'' from his match-hardened team.

    "We defended very well. It's been the best it's been for some time. Scotland played some good attacking football at times and put us under pressure. The way the guys handled that was very pleasing.''

    Remarkably, in view of what came later, Scotland scored first, with Australia-born fly-half Dan Parks kicking a 40 metre penalty.

    But that was as good as it got for Scotland, who didn't help their own cause with a couple of early knock-ons.

    Then, from a scrum, quick ball was provided to scrum-half Jimmy Cowan, who found Williams before the centre's superb pass out of the back of the hand released Gear for a ninth minute try under the posts.

    By early in the second half, New Zealand had a fifth try when another Williams pass out of the back of the hand led to Muliaina going over.

    Carter made no mistake with the tough conversion but, after a match haul of 15 points, he was withdrawn with 30 minutes left.

    But the All Blacks were not done, with outside centre Conrad Smith and replacement scrum-half Andy Ellis adding two more tries.

    http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/so...-1225953262273

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    WHOOOHOOOOO!!!
    Scotland got 3!!!
    Fantastic boys, you must be so proud...


    Saw the first twenty live and it was a trainwreck on the rise.
    Sadly for the joint oldest Test nation it seems that most of the key players are mature age born again Scots. I can't see things changing while they rely on overseas ex-pats.

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    Player doobie69's Avatar
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    7 lucky tries against the run of play. Thank f*#k Aussie Dan Parks had his goal kicking on target to land that 3rd minute penalty or the result would have just been an embarrassment

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    Immortal jargan83's Avatar
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    It's good to see the minnow nations get a run against the big Rugby nations

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    Last edited by jargan83; 16-11-10 at 09:37.

  13. #13
    Player doobie69's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jargan83 View Post
    It's good to see the minnow nations like get a run against the big Rugby nations
    I think it's great. And didn't England use their opportunity on the big stage well.

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    Sadly England aint Scotland...and vice versa...

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