Century of Scotland-Kiwi rugby rivalry

Published on Thursday 24 November 2005 14:04

ONE HUNDRED years have passed since New Zealand's rugby squad first visited their Scottish counterparts in a test of raw power and skill. My, how some things remain the same.

The All Blacks of today are playing with all the force and voracity of a steam-powered Hogwart's Express train. Results of 41-3, 45-7 and 23-19 - three victories in three attempts this month - have put an emphatic Kiwi stamp of dominance in international rugby circles.

Now they visit Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh this weekend for the concluding match of the 2005 International series. If history is any gauge, Scotland will be in for a difficult test.

It was on 18 November 1905 when New Zealand came calling to the Inverleith ground, Edinburgh, for its initial encounter against the Saltire State. Admission was one shilling, an advert in The Scotsman informed interested readers on the day, but, it warned with typical Scottish zeal, "no change will be given at the gate".

The weather was fine but cold for the 2.30pm kickoff. The ground was hard and the surface greasy following a night of near-freezing temperatures. Braving the cold, an estimated crowd of 21,000 - believed to be the largest to witness the sport in Scotland at the time - would certainly get their money's worth.

Even before the start, the fans were entertained with a bit of theatre from both sides of the pitch. The skirl of bagpipes played on before the Kiwis would put on a display never before seen in the north of Britain - the now traditional pre-match war chant, the Haka.

"They gathered together in a group near the centre of the field and gave a representation of Maori war cry," The Scotsman said. "It was a pleasant incident before the start of what was a grim struggle."

By the end of the afternoon, the "hitherto all-conquering New Zealand footballers", as they were described, maintained their perfect record in 20 attempts with a 12-7 victory. But it wasn't without a scare.

The defeated squad could take solace in keeping the All Blacks "so well in check that they won by only five points," The Scotsman said. The team "did infinitely better than most people had anticipated."

The Scottish side led until five minutes remaining. The hosts played a cautious and controlled style, taking advantage of few scoring opportunities, while the tourists appeared off their pace most of the match.

"The fact that Scotland scored first, that Scotland was ahead in points, if not in play, for the greater part of the 80 minutes, and that the maginificent, almost dramatic, finish by the All Blacks ... made the match one of the most exciting ever played," the paper reported.

A quick glance at the season statistics in 1905 explains just how dominant New Zealand had become in rugby football. Twenty matches and 20 wins, including 15 clean sheets. The All Blacks were all dominating, scoring 624 points in those tries to just 22 by their opponents. Scotland, having scored seven in their confrontation, proved to be the highest-scoring foe of all.

New Zealand's superiority then and now are bookends to a historic century of rugby battles with their long-distance cousins. This weekend is just the latest chapter between the squads - but as history shows, it's not just any rugby rivalry.

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