Same old story for Scots

Scotland are still looking for a first win over the All Blacks in 103 years of trying after going down to a 32-6 defeat at Murrayfield.

Scottish hopes were high coming into their first Test of the autumn against an experimental New Zealand line-up, but ultimately the Tri-Nations champions just had too much cutting edge.

Scotland were dominant at the scrum and enjoyed plenty of possession and pressure, but the visitors also combined defensive steel with their impressive attacking firepower. New Zealand barely missed a tackle in the 80 minutes and the ones they made were typically punishing.

But it was Scotland who made a dream start, going ahead through the boot of Chris Paterson inside two minutes.

Blair surprised the All Blacks by taking a quick tap penalty and bursting over halfway. Paterson was in support and carried the ball into the 22 where Adam Thompson went in at the side, and the full-back made no mistake with a simple penalty.

But Scotland were quickly on the back foot themselves with Nick De Luca yellow-carded just a minute later for cynically denying the All Blacks quick ball and Stephen Donald levelled the scores.

Stellar start

Things got worse for the Scots four minutes later as the defence was sucked in, Donald fired a chip across to the right wing and Anthony Tuitavake finished well in the corner for his first international try. Donald was making a stellar start with the boot and added the extras from the touchline.

Both sides were attempting to play open, running rugby, although the next two scores came when Donald and Paterson exchanged penalties midway through the half.

But Scotland as good as gifted New Zealand their second try as they turned over quick ball inside their own half, Richard Kahui kicked on and Piri Weepu won the foot-race to touch down.

The All Blacks were quickly caught offside and Paterson's penalty attempt was for once awry, but moments later the hosts were once again on the offensive after a break from hooker Ross Ford, and Anthony Boric was yellow-carded for coming in on the wrong side four metres from his own line.

Scotland opted for the scrum against a seven-man pack but the chance came to nothing when Blair spilled the ball with a clear overlap on the blind side.

With the ball getting slippy, the All Blacks knocked on from their own scrum and it required nmore ferocious defence to keep the Scots at bay until the break with the deficit 18-6.

Wicked bounce

Just two minutes into the second half the All Blacks had another try, a hack upfield bouncing wickedly in front of Paterson and Richard Kahui was able to pick up and score.

With 26 minutes to go, regular skipper Richie McCaw came on and Scotland escaped a certain try just past the hour when an unmarked Cory Jane dropped the ball on the line, missing out on the chance for his first Test try.

But New Zealand were not to be denied seven minutes from time and again it came from a kick, Donald collecting his own grubber and offloading for Boric to crash over under the sticks.