Heartbreak for Scotland as All Blacks Claim Late Victory
Scotland's quest for a first victory over New Zealand in 120 years ended in familiar heartache at Murrayfield, as the All Blacks snatched a dramatic 25-17 win with a late try. Centre Sione Tuipulotu described the gut-wrenching defeat as a 'tough pill to swallow' after his side had mounted a spectacular second-half fightback.
Stunning Second-Half Resurgence
New Zealand appeared to be in complete control at half-time, establishing a commanding 17-point lead. However, the match transformed after the interval as Gregor Townsend's side produced what Tuipulotu labelled 'some of the best rugby Scotland have played in the last three years'.
The Scottish revival saw them draw level with the All Blacks, capitalising on three yellow cards shown to the visitors. During this period, Tuipulotu felt victory was 'pretty close to inevitable', citing the team's dominant ball movement and pressure at the breakdown. Despite creating several clear opportunities, including being held up over the line twice in the first half and a missed chance by winger Darcy Graham, Scotland couldn't convert their pressure into a decisive lead.
The Final Gut Punch
With the score locked at 17-17 and just six minutes remaining, Damian McKenzie broke Scottish hearts. The All Blacks full-back first scored a crucial try in the corner, then added a late penalty to secure the eight-point victory. The winning score was initiated by a clever 50:22 kick from McKenzie, one of New Zealand's few meaningful attacks in the second period.
Tuipulotu admitted the defeat was particularly painful given the team's performance. 'I'm gutted for all the players, fans and coaches,' he said. 'I don't want to say I'm proud of the group because I think we're a better team than that now. We showed we could have won.'
The Scotland captain also paid tribute to the Murrayfield crowd, whose electric response to the comeback created an unforgettable atmosphere. 'At 17-all, I could truly say that it felt like the stadium was hovering,' Tuipulotu recalled. 'I genuinely feel that's the best stadium in the world.'
While acknowledging the raw disappointment, Tuipulotu identified the main lesson from the match: 'We need to find a way to get more of that dominant 20-minute performance across an entire 80-minute game.' For Scotland, the wait for a historic victory over the All Blacks continues, but this performance demonstrated how close they are to ending that long drought.
