All Blacks show ruthless streak in second half to sink Scotland at Murrayfield

The set-pieces took centre stage for the All Blacks, with the tries flowing in the first half from the lineouts, the first coming through Wallace Sititi with the back-rower charging away after a dummy carry from Peter Lakai.

It was a statement of intent from the visitors after just three minutes but the Scots' reply was swift as Kyle Rowe expertly dissected the All Blacks' backfield with a pinpoint 50:22.

From the ensuing lineout, Ewan Ashman got his first five points of the afternoon and there was more of that in store for the hooker.

Ethan de Groot was next to cross the whitewash with the prop forward benefitting from a smart kick and the immense work-rate of Beauden Barrett who won a penalty inside the Scottish 22. Scrum-half Cam Roigard quickly tapped the ball and moments later it was the Highlanders loosehead who powered over.

Lakai went from providing the deception for Sititi's score to grabbing five points of his own as New Zealand went into a 17-7 lead but the flanker was sent to the sin bin soon after, which gave Scotland an opportunity to counterpunch, which they duly did.

Sione Tuipulotu pulled the strings along with Finn Russell, with Ashman making the final carry to score his second try.

Despite being down a man, the All Blacks had a reply and through the most experienced man on the pitch as Beauden Barrett latched onto a Damian McKenzie flat pass to score his 49th Test try to extend the visitors’ lead to 24-14.

Sititi would replicate Lakai in scoring a try and visiting the sin bin when he was yellow-carded in the 32nd minute and whilst he was off the pitch, Ashman created history by becoming the first Scotsman to score a hat-trick against the mighty All Blacks.

That meant that Gregor Townsend’s men trailed by only three points after a helter-skelter first half but the second 40 minutes belonged to the men in black.

Josh Moorby got the scoreboard ticking again just eight minutes after the break as he benefited from a dominant scrum, and Barrett followed two minutes later to complete his brace and bring up 50 Test tries – becoming only the second player to do so for the All Blacks after Will Jordan.

The Scots attacked ferociously but not accurately as New Zealand’s defence held firm and the game was put to bed and well beyond reach in the 67th minute as replacement hooker Asafo Aumua raced away for a try.