The Sports Corner

Hungry All Blacks keen to keep unbeaten record against Scotland

The All Blacks have gathered in Scotland for Saturday’s opening Test match of their European tour at Murrayfield. The plucky Scots have never beaten the All Blacks in the 26 Test matches they have played since 1905, with the All Blacks recording 24 wins and 2 draws, the last one in 1983.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named 12 changes to the team which faced Australia last week in Hong Kong.

The Test is seen as New Zealand’s first chance to trial a number of young up and coming players ahead of what is expected to be tougher Tests against England and France.

But the chance of facing an ‘under strength’ All Blacks is not creating any false hope in the Scottish camp.

Scotland captain, Mike Blair was realistic when speaking to reporters “I think it is a very dangerous side they have chosen. They have got a lot to prove to the coaches and they’ll be absolutely desperate to show what they can do in an All Blacks shirt, so this is arguably a more dangerous side to play against.”

“This is a chance to make history,” he added. “You’re never going to get that many chances against them and in the past we’ve maybe not been that good at taking those opportunities which have come our way. We have to make sure that we don’t make the same mistake on Saturday.”
 
“That means that when you have kicks at goal you take them and you put pressure on them so that they make mistakes. They are an inexperienced side, very talented but inexperienced, and we feel there are going to be opportunities in this game. Obviously when you go into these sorts of games you are going to do analysis on the opposition but with it being our first game of the autumn series and their second game, it is going to be very important how your own game goes.”

“If you get your own structures right and your own decision making right then you will be satisfied with how things go.”

The sides’ most recent encounter was at Murrayfield during the 2007 World Cup, which saw the All Blacks beat a second-string Scotland 40-0. At the time Scotland preferred to rest key players for a clash the following week with Italy which was seen as a better chance to win. The decision not to dress their best team on the day was met with contempt by the All Blacks.

It would seem hypocrisy runs strong in the All Black camp, particularly with the efforts of SANZAR (South Africa New Zealand and Australia Rugby Unions) to demand Northern Hemisphere teams send full strength touring teams to all matches against their constituents in the future.