A Century of Hurt: Scotland's All Blacks Riddle
The weight of history bearing down on the Scottish rugby team as they prepare to face the All Blacks is enough to buckle the Forth Road Bridge. For 120 years, this fixture has been a puzzle they have been unable to solve, with victory always eluding them. In 32 matches spanning over a century, the record stands at a daunting 30 wins for New Zealand and two draws. The column for Scottish triumphs remains starkly blank.
Painful Memories and Near Misses
The journey has been punctuated by some savage beatings. In 1993, New Zealand ran riot in a 51-15 victory. The 2007 Rugby World Cup brought humiliation with a 40-0 loss at Murrayfield, a match where Frank Hadden controversially fielded a second-string team. Further heavy defeats followed in 2010 (49-3) and 2012 (51-22), often against All Blacks sides boasting legends like Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, and Sonny Bill Williams.
Yet, there have been agonisingly close calls. In 2014, Vern Cotter’s Scotland trailed by a single point with seven minutes left, only to lose 24-16. In 2017, against 14 players, they might have won had Stuart Hogg not been hauled down just short of the line. The most recent encounter in 2022 was perhaps the most painful. Scotland fought back from a 14-0 deficit to lead 23-14, only to lose their nerve and the match 31-23. The dejection on coach Gregor Townsend's face was vivid. ‘I’m gutted because I’m not sure we will ever get a better chance to finally beat the All Blacks,’ he said afterwards.
A Golden Opportunity Knocks at Murrayfield
Now, that chance has returned. The air of invincibility that once surrounded New Zealand has faded. They remain a good team, but are in a period of transition under new coach Scott Robertson, building towards the 2027 World Cup. Recent form shows vulnerability, including a record 43-10 defeat to South Africa and a loss to Argentina in the Rugby Championship.
Townsend has recalled most of Scotland's big guns for this showdown, making the tough choice to drop Duhan van der Merwe in favour of the more defensively sound Kyle Steyn. With Zander Fagerson injured, the scrum, with D’Arcy Rae at tighthead, will be a key battleground. New Zealand, while missing the injured Scott and Jordie Barrett, still have the class of Beauden Barrett (142 caps).
As Scotland don a special jersey to mark Murrayfield's centenary year, forcing the All Blacks into a changed white kit, the stage is set. The mystique of the silver fern remains, but this is a team that is eminently beatable. For Townsend and his players, after 120 years of trying, the question is simple: if not now, then when?
