Scotland 17-25 New Zealand: player ratings and report as second half comeback ultimately falls short

Scotland's 120 year wait for victory over New Zealand goes on after an incredible second half comeback at Murrayfield ultimately fell short and ended in a 25-17 defeat.

After just two minutes New Zealand's big second row Josh Lord spotted a huge gap after Scotland opted not to contest a ruck and broke far too easily through the middle of the pitch before an easy offload sent scrum half Cam Roigard in for the opening score with Beauden Barrett adding the extras for 7-0. Scotland responded with some good passing and hard running as Darcy Graham got his hands on the ball a lot in the early stages but the All Blacks were quick to close down the space and make sure the winger couldn't break away.

Then, once the visitors got in the host's 22, they upped the pace to fighting levels and it took some exceptional defence to keep them out including not one but two try saving tackles by Kyle Steyn. The pressure resulted in penalties with the All Blacks opting for a scrum five under the posts from the second but a monumental defensive effort from the Scots eventually resulted in a penalty to Scotland which allowed them to clear the danger.

That was after 23 minutes though and they had the whole game to try and keep it up. That being said, It did give Murrayfield a huge lift and a 50-22 kick from Finn Russell gave them a line out which wasn't the smoothest but still made it to Scottish hands.

A few phases later and Blair Kinghorn almost put Graham in with a neat scissors but the winger was held up on the line. New Zealand put the pressure back on straight after that scare and got themselves back in Scotland's 22 and won another penalty advantage. Scotland kept them out again and this time Barrett opted for an easy three points under the posts to make it 10-0.

The game became a bit scrappy from both sides after that but Scotland were given a huge shot in the arm when a lose ball was kicked forward by Graham before a blatant trip by his opposition number Leroy Carter saw the All Black's winger yellow carded. Scotland kicked for touch, won the line out and got the ball up to the try line but were again held up.

It continued to be a bit messy from both sides and an aerial contest saw Kinghorn break in his own 22 before swinging a huge pass to Rory Hutchison who could have been away but the game was pulled back for a forward pass. That resulted in a nightmare end to the first half for Scotland as the All Blacks won a penalty from the scrum but didn't need it as they sliced through the home defence and Roigard sailed in for an frustratingly easy score from the Scottish point of view with Barrett adding the extras to make it 17-0.

Scotland had about two minutes to try and get some points on the board before Carter's sin bin ended after the break and they cam agonisingly close with drive after drive at the All Black's line eventually ending in a penalty. The winger returned to the pitch bu Scotland won an advantage from the line out and Russell tried an audacious kick that was cleared.

This time they went from the driving maul after Grant Gilchrist took the throw at the front with hooker Ewan Asham awarded the score. Six minutes into the second half and the game was back on as Russell added the extras to make it 7-17 and it was even better as the visitors were again reduced to 14 men as Ardie Savea was yellow carded for attempting to collapse the maul.

Scotland next won a scrum penalty and from the subsequent line out they sent it through the hands with Kinghorn making the initial break that split the New Zealand defence before the ball was eventually flung wide to Steyn who crossed for the try. The winger managed to make it far enough in to the try zone to give Russell a favourable kick too which the fly half notched to make the score 14-17.

The game was all Scotland and they were once again up on the New Zealand line and this time it was the visitors who needed a monumental defensive effort to keep the hosts out. It pressure eventually subsided after a Scotland knock on on 54 minutes. The breathtaking action continued and Murrayfiled though Graham had put them ahead but a last ditch tackle from Roigard forced him to drop the ball as he dived for the line.

Savea then returned from the bin. That didn't deter Scotland though and another penalty saw them this time go for the posts as Murrayfield fell silent and Russell levelled the scores at 17-17 with a fine kick.

The cracks were really showing for New Zealand and once again they were down to 14 on 60 minutes as Wallace Sititi prevented a line break with a deliberate knock on. The first signs of life from the All Blacks since early in the half came as they picked out a well spotted 50-22 for a line out on Scotland's five meter line on the 70th minute. Scotland dug deep for another big defensive effort but gave away an offside penalty in doing so.

The visitors swung the ball from side to side and in the end the try came in scrappy fashion with replacement Damien McKenzie getting over in the corner and no more. However, the difficult kick was not converted and Scotland still had a clear path to victory with six minutes remaining. Murrayfield rose to sing the team on but all the life was sucked out of the crowd when the All Blacks won a penalty on the 76th minute. Another penalty followed in quick succession with a kick from five meters in front of the half way line.

It was a brilliant nudge from McKenzie who sent it through the posts to make it 25-17 to the visitors. That eight point lead ended the contest as the All Blacks saw it out to deny what almost seemed like history in the making.