Scotland 17-25 New Zealand: Frustration and pride for Townsend plus Finn Russel injury update
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend had mixed emotions after losing to New Zealand at Murrayfield.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend described the mixed emotions of frustration but also pride as Scotland fell to a 25-17 defeat to the New Zealand at Murrayfield.
It was without a doubt a frustrating first half, not just for the coach but for everyone inside Murrayfield not associated with the All Blacks. However, the pride came from an exceptional 30 minutes in the second half where the Scots played the visitors off the park to level the scores at 17-17.
Ultimately though the game was changed by the New Zealand replacements and they managed to get back ahead in the final 10 minutes and secure the victory. The Southern Hemisphere heavyweights remain unbeaten against Scotland as the 120 year wait for a Scottish victory goes on.
Townsend’s mixed emotions after Scotland defeat to ‘outstanding’ All Blacks
Speaking after the match, Townsend said: “After half-time, there was a lot more pride than frustration. We needed to come back in terms of scoreboard and how well New Zealand were playing. They were outstanding.
“But there was obviously frustration, probably more at 14-17 than 17-all. We had three chances. To go ahead and I think that would have made a massive difference.Now when we got the penalty, it was right to take the penalty and go 17-all because the momentum was all with us. But the momentum was with us at 17-14 and that would have forced New Zealand to do something different. So yeah, they had one opportunity in the second half.
“They took it and the game changed massively. We had many more. We took some of them, but we didn't take that one extra. that would have put us into the lead going into the last 50 minutes. So that's frustrating.”
“It was a very physical game and for us to get the rewards, we had to be outstanding in contact. New Zealand, defended differently today than they have against other teams. They were more wide-spaced.
“They were looking to jack a lot more than they have been and they obviously didn't want us getting to multi-phase. So we had to change, we had to be more direct and the players did that in the second half and that requires a lot of effort and to clear those contacts, to get back up and carry again. and it got us rewards. It got penalties, it got scores, it got yellow cards.
“So yeah, maybe a different style or a different way of playing, but it shows that we, I don't need to say it today, we showed this a number of times, but it shows that we can be really physical with our ball, carrying our contact. Our set-piece was very good today as well. Scrum-wise, we probably got more out of that than the opposition.
“A real credit to D’arcy on the tight-head side, but all of the pack and also Peter de Villiers, who works really closely with the forwards. So yeah, that change of momentum back in our favour was really pleasing to see and that period was excellent. It was a cohesive team and it takes time sometimes to build that cohesion, but the players built it under adversity today.”
Injury update on Finn Russell plus Zander Fagerson’s chances to face Argentina
Attentions now turn to next week’s match when Argentina visit Murrayfield. Townsend will need his best available 15 to choose from but there was concern after Finn Russell seemingly picked up a injury in the match against the All Blacks.
“His knee was the initial injury and I thought he was outstanding even though he had that knee strain,” explained Townsend. “The reason we took him off is just because he had an ankle too, so there were two injuries he was carrying. He doesn't think they'll be serious, but it's obviously too early to say.
“But during that period, I think just after his knee injury, he had a great 50-22. He was very physical in defence and was obviously a big part of our attack. So we hope he'll be fit for next week, but we have to deal with injuries. We lost two Lions going into this game, or two Lions weren't available, but we've got other players that can step up.”