Scotland 17-25 New Zealand: 'Gutted' Tuipulotu says Scotland a better team than taking pride in valiant defeat
The Scotland captain was frustrated at the missed opportunity after clawing the All Blacks back to 17-0 down only to go on and lose.
Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu said he was ‘gutted’ following their 17-25 defeat to New Zealand at Murrayfield and was struggling to take any pride in the defeat.
It was a hugely underwhelming first half where simple errors results in scores for the visitors. However, the first 30 minutes of the second half saw the hosts play some exception rugby and claw the score back level having been 17-0 down.
Three yellow cards throughout the match for the All Blacks gave them an opportunity to finally beat the Southern Hemisphere heavyweights for the first time ever but in the end they couldn’t get the job done. It was the visitors who turned the momentum around in the final 10 minutes for the victory to undo all of Scotland’s hard work.
Scotland captain ‘gutted’ at All Blacks loss having worked hard to level game
Speaking after the match, the Scotland captain said: “I'm gutted for all the players and fans and coaches. I know how much goes into a performance like that. I don't want to get up here and say I'm proud of the group and we played well because I think we're a better team than that now. And we showed in that game that we could have got what we wanted and what we came here to do today and that's win.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow right now. Me and the group and the coaches are hurting as you can imagine. That game felt a little bit different to the one three years ago when we were up at 60. I just felt like the momentum shift that happened around 45-50 minutes was probably one of the biggest that I've ever seen in a game I’ve played in. The rugby we were playing there in that block of 20 minutes, it felt pretty close to inevitable [that we were going to win], you know? The way we were moving the ball and getting to contacts and wide breakdowns and stuff like that and putting them under pressure and making them forcing their discipline, dragging a few yellow cards and stuff like that.
“I felt like that period there was some of the best rugby that I've been a part of when I've been playing for Scotland. But when the scoreline was 17-0, I thought maybe we could have stayed a little bit more aggressive. That was what was working. But we'll have to look back at that now.
“I know we got held over the line a couple of times and we knocked the ball over the line a couple of times as well. When you play a team like the All Blacks, those chances need to be taken. And we didn't, maybe that's four opportunities, a lot of points on the board there. We had to drag ourselves out of a hole.
“But that's the part that I am proud of - the group and the coaching staff - that we showed the maturity to drag ourselves out of that hole and give ourselves a chance to win in that last 10 minutes.”
McKenzie kick a ‘gut punch’ as All Blacks replacement turns tide in favour of New Zealand
The momentum, which had been all Scotland’s in the second half, turned after what looked like a sure fire try for Darcy Graham was dropped over the line under pressure from New Zealand replacement Damien McKenzie. The Chiefs’ full back then went up the pitch and kicked a super 50/22 which was the precursor to the visitors going back in front.
“It's a gut punch,” said Tuipulotu. “Jeez, you're at 17-all there and he puts one right over five metres out from the line. It's a gut punch, but we understand that's the type of players that they have in their changing room. We still stood there and defended our line well and made them score right in the far corner. And McKenzie had a really good finish there.
“I thought we dominated that second half in every way. Defensively as well. Even when we had to defend, I thought we were being offensive-minded. Then when we got the ball, we put them under so much pressure that we were forcing yellow cards and penalties and ultimately tries.”
The Scotland captain also took time to thank the Murrayfield crowd, who played their part in the initial comeback, saying: “I would just like to say thank you so much. At 17-all, I could truly say that it felt like the stadium was hovering when Finn kicked that penalty. And it's a credit to Murrayfield. What an amazing feeling.
“That's a year since I've played out at Murrayfield. I know I'm a little bit biased, but I genuinely feel that's the best stadium in the world. And we've got the best fans in the world. And I'd just like to say thank you so much for coming out. I know you guys will be so disappointed just as we are. That was our massive motivation. We wanted to make today a special day for our fans as well. So thanks so much for coming out.”