Gregor Townsend: no 'aura' issue for Scotland against All Blacks despite 33-game streak
Coach cites France win as evidence of what his team can achieve
Gregor Townsend believes the “aura” of the All Blacks will not be an issue when Scotland face them at Murrayfield in the Nations Championship on Saturday as he called on his side to produce a level of performance similar to the one which secured a stunning victory over France in the Six Nations.
The head coach named his team on Thursday and only one of the starting XV, full-back Kyle Rowe, has not faced New Zealand before.
The sides met in Edinburgh as recently as last autumn and although the All Blacks won 25-17, Townsend is confident his squad’s familiarity with the opposition will ensure the occasion will not overawe them.
“We don't get to play them very often, they're an iconic brand of world rugby,” said Townsend, who selected Rowe ahead of Blair Kinghorn and also picked Huw Jones over Rory Hutchinson at outside centre.
“[But] it probably isn't the same uniqueness as in previous years when we were waiting four or five years to play them – we did play them 12 months ago.
The run stretches back to 1905
“We’re just focused on the challenge ahead. They're playing some excellent rugby right now and it's our first game of the season which is always the toughest challenge for us too.”
Scotland have never beaten New Zealand in 33 Tests, stretching back to 1905, and the All Blacks have long been a touchstone for Scottish coaches, stretching back to the great Jim Telfer. The jersey, the silver fern logo and pre-match Haka have all added to their mythology but Townsend thinks recent results between the sides have had nothing to do with “aura”.
Last season, New Zealand led 17-0 at half-time but Scotland came back strongly to level the match at 17-17 at the midpoint of the second half only to concede a try and a penalty to All Blacks replacement stand-off Damian McKenzie in the final six minutes.
“We just dropped off defensively a couple of times last year early on,” said Townsend. “We'd created opportunities and maybe 17-0 didn't reflect the game. We fought to get back in that game and had a lot of play.
“A year ago, I think it was nothing to do with aura, it was just about us not completing on a couple of occasions when we had those opportunities.”
Win over France gave us evidence of what works
Townsend takes belief from the way Scotland played in their 50-40 victory over France in Edinburgh in March. The hosts scored seven tries and led 47-14 at one point in an extraordinary game that put paid to France’s Grand Slam ambitions.
“The France game gave us evidence of what works for us,” said the coach. “If we get our effort together with physicality and can produce quick ball, it can trouble any team in the world. We were accurate that day too. The goal is to produce a similar level of performance.
“Regarding New Zealand, I think the fact that we have played them recently, that helps. You play France every year so they become a familiar opponent. New Zealand should be a familiar opponent over the next year or two because we're going to play them again in 12 months' time. Who knows, we might play them in three weeks' time. That does help.
“Things like the Haka, the All Black image, players would have grown up watching that. A lot of people in sport know the All Blacks as the iconic rugby team but our players have played against them so that will help.”
Teams for Murrayfield Nations Championship clash
Scotland: Kyle Rowe; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Jamie Dobie; Finn Russell, Ben White; Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey. Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Pierre Schoeman, Will Hurd, Max Williamson, Josh Baylish, George Horne, Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn.
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett; Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby; Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor (capt), Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland, Tupou Vaa'i, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi. Replacements: Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Pasilio Tosi, Christian Lio-Willie, Anton Segner, Cortez Ratima, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Rieko Ioane.
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU).
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