Speaking at the post match press conference, Scotland’s head coach Fergus Pringle praised his charges for their sustained competitiveness, saying: “I just thought the effort in the fight was outstanding: the boys really dug in and gave everything”.

But a realist rather than a senitmentalist, Pringle acknowledged certain imperfections in his side’s performance. “We just have to be able to be more clinical.” he added. “We can’t afford the mistakes that we had. But these are going to happen – that’s learning. The boys will make mistakes when they’re having a go.

“I thought the effort was outstanding in the fight. I thought that this was characterised by the last play of the game. They managed to get a strong penalty and they managed to go to the corner and score. We just needed to get a few more entries into their 22.”

A number of handling errors or failure to hold on to the ball were undoubtedly attributable to the very warm conditions that necessitated an elongated half time and sufficient water breaks in each half. But as Pringle rightly pointed out: “It was the same for both teams”.

Scotland should go into their next and final pool mach against Japan next Tuesday confident following such a strong display in the forward play against the Baby Blacks. Moreover other than slight concerns over co-captain Ross Wolfenden it should be a mainly undamaged squad for the Japan encounter.

Having played well in defence for most of the first quarter, and having threatened in attack, Scotland were hit by an 18th minute try from New Zealand, ironically from the Dundee-born former Strathallan School pupil Logan Williams, who was in the Scotland U18 squad two years ago, following an ill-judged pass, after a free-kick by Asa Stewart Harris that left Jake Dalziel an all too easy target for the New Zealand rush defence.

When the ball went loose after the inevitable hit, Williams applied the boot before using his pace to win the race for the touchdown. Stand-off Mika Muliaina supplied the extras to this opening score and then added further points with a penalty goal just prior to the first water break.

Scotland had a chance to open up the New Zealand defence from an interception by Dalziel only for the ball to be turned over at the contact point. Then, when New Zealand moved the ball wide, their pocket rocket wing Kele Lasaqa used his pace and exceptional footwork to escape down the right touchline. Full-back Rory McHaffie managed to track down the Bay of Plenty paceman but the New Zealand flier was still able to off-load to the supporting Cohen Norrie for the Baby Blacks’ second try, Muliaina again successful with the conversion kick to put his side into a 17-0 lead.

Scotland desperately needed points and duly delivered just before the break from a driving maul that created a try for Harvey Preston. From the touchline, Dalziel added the conversion points to make the 17-7 interval score, which was a much fairer reflection of the first half.

If hopes had been high that Scotland could carry their pre-break form into the second half then these were immediately dashed just seconds after the restart  A clever kick-off from Muliaina caused Scotland indecision at reception time giving New Zealand quick possession. The arch playmaker Muliaina then threaded the ball through the Scotland defence with a pin-point accurate grubber kick and when the bounce sat up perfectly for Norrie, the full-back sailed over for his second try.

Scotland replied with an excellent 50-22 by Dalziel that gave his team a five meter line-out from which they muscled over for a second driving maul score finished off by skipper Roberts and converted by Dalziel.

Then, when Norrie sliced through midfield before laying on the bonus-point try for centre Siale Pahulu, New Zealand were worryingly 29-14 ahead.

But again Scotland’s forwards came up with an answer and once more it was the driving maul creating a second try for co-captain Joe Roberts and a confidence lift for the men in mauve.

It looked as though Scotland would score their bonus point try when Dan Kelly beat the New Zealand defence on the right flank ,but the winger’s attempted off-load out of the tackle just failed to find the supporting Wolfenden and the chance was gone.

It was enough to concentrate New Zealand minds, the Baby Blacks powering back into the game, driving a line-out and then five phases later scoring through replacement second-row John Falloon, Muliaina converting to increase the New Zealand lead to 36-19.

In a desperate finish for Scotland, Dalziel kicked a penalty to the corner allowing the Scots to drive the ensuing line-out. New Zealand initially thwarted the assault but several phases later replacement scrum-half Matthew Fick released the ball wide with a long pass. Williams tried to intercept but ended up deflecting it into the hands of Kelly who had only to dive over in the corner for a deserved bonus-point try for Scotland.

From wide out Dalziel completed his considerable goal kicking contribution with his third conversion to leave the Scots disappointed but satisfied at securing the critical bonus pointm and crucially with a degree of confidence going into their final group game against Japan next Tuesday.

 

Teams –

New Zealand: C Norrie; K Lasaqa, S Pahulu (L Williams 11-23), H Wiseman, D Lawai (L Williams 59); M Muliaina, C Linton (J Hughan 79); H Stuart (D Johnston 61), J Findlay (A Fakava 70), E Webber (A Hewitt 61), Max Fale (J Falloon 54), J Frost, B Tocker, C Woodley, P Mauna (Micah Fale 45).

Scotland: R McHaffie (C Waugh 67); D Kelly, H Kesterton, A Bryden (R Wolfenden 42), N Moncrieff; J Dalziel, A Stewart-Harris (M Fick 60); O McKenna (W Pearce 55), J Roberts (J McAughtrie 58), O Blyth-Lafferty (J Rennie 57), A Blackett (S Byrd 42), D Halkon, C Lindsay, J Utterson (O Finlayson-Russel 9-21) , H Preston (J Roberts 60).

Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (UAR)

 

Scorers –

New Zealand: Tries Williams, Norrie 2, Pahulu, Falloon;  Cons: Muliaina 4;  Pens:  Muliaina.

Scotland: Tries: Preston, Roberts 2, Kelly; Cons Dalziel 3.

Scoring Sequence (New Zealand first): 5-0; 7-0; 10-0; 15-0; 17-0; 17-5; 17-7 (h-t) 22-7; 24-7; 22-12; 22-14; 27-14; 29-14; 29-19; 34-19; 36-19; 36-24; 36-26.