All Blacks to get the ‘game of their lives’ from Scots

Scotland have a new attacking mindset and will be out to give the All Blacks ‘‘the game of their lives’’.

That’s the belief of British great Jeremy Guscott, these days a respected rugby pundit for the BBC.

Guscott feels Scotland now have one of the best coaches in the business in charge in Gregor Townsend who can add a new dimension to the team on the back of improvements made by their former New Zealand mentor Vern Cotter who finished his term in words for Tawera Kerr-Barlow who led the haka in what may be his final All Blacks appearance with his tour-end departure for La Rochelle.

‘‘He’s been in outstanding form most of his All Blacks career, and has always given us something to charge earlier this year.

Guscott suggested Scotland’s pulsating 44-38 win over Samoa last weekend was a sign of things to come as Townsend’s team came out on top in an 11-try thriller.

‘‘I’ve seen and heard people moaning that Scotland’s defence is a bit porous. But I think Scotland are in a better place than people might think, because they’re doing what is harder in rugby and that is scoring tries,’’ Guscott wrote in his latest piece for the BBC. think about ... it was a great performance, composed, and, apart from one pass, the rest of his game was outstanding.’’

The coach also lauded the benfits of the fixture, not just as a much-needed money-spinner for New Zealand rugby (this and the

Guscott was sure that, despite Samoa staying in the game, the Scots never really felt they would lose the test in Edinburgh.

‘‘I remember Gregor Townsend, the new Scotland coach, as a player. I played with him on the 1997 Lions tour and also against him for our countries and the scoreline very much reflects him as a player. His mentality is ‘if you score four, I’m going to score five’,’’ Guscott continued.

‘‘They’ve got one of the best Baabaas clash could contribute more than $4 million to the national coffers), but a developmental tool for the top-end of the Kiwi game.

‘‘The biggest bonus was the fact these guys got to play two games, and out of the Barbarians there coaches in the world, someone who transformed Glasgow into a tryscoring team, and it looks like he’s doing the same now with Scotland.

‘‘They’ve got the All Blacks this weekend and he’ll be saying: ‘you’re not expected to beat New Zealand, go out and prove people wrong. Let’s give them the game of their lives and the game they weren’t expecting’.’’

Scotland have never beaten the All Blacks with New Zealand winning 28 and drawing two of their 30 tests. was an opportunity them to come join us

‘‘We have been able to prepare some younger men not only for tomorrow, but beyond. There’s a lot of talk about 2019, but some of these guys may not get their opportunity till after ‘19.’’ for five of

David Havili 7:

Not many attacking chances. Some confident high-ball takes, a well-read 22 catch and nice banana clearance, good floating ball for Duffie try. Caught in no-man’s land in being unable to stop first French try.

Palmed off big-time by Camille Chat. Lean frame was hit backwards a few more times with ball in hand, but found a bit more space later.

Sole new starting All Black had some good stuff undone by unfortunate 67th-minute yellow card. Prior to that showed lovely vision and distribution, including nice floating ball for Squire to score. Good defensive reads too.

Matt Duffie 6: Jack Goodhue 6: Ngani Laumape 8:

Strong carries as usual - no better than 56th-min try where he ran over Vincent Rattezand close to line. Distribution a mix of lovely and awful – such as super quick-hands turning average Sopoaga pass into a Duffie try, then soon after throwing intercept-try pass which was forward anyway.

Seta Tamanivalu 7:

Used often in midfield as a dangerous roamer, always strong. Some good runs down left flank. Sucked in on defence to concede ABs’ first try.

Lima Sopoaga 6:

Just a distributor, really. One early aimless kick, forward pass scuppered attacking chance on halftime. Solid front-on defence.

Most likely his last match in ABs jersey before heading to La Rochelle. Decent defensive work, the odd good scamper, awful grubber into French legs, not the crispest night of distribution.

Tawera Kerr-Barlow 6: Luke Whitelock 7:

Nothing flashy from first-time skipper, always on hand for a strong carry, and solid tackling. Lost ball in tackle close to line but a penalty saved blushes.

Ardie Savea 6:

Fine early turnover win which turned momentum and led to opening try. Mostly well-contained and couldn’t find much space to show the x-factor.

Liam Squire 9:

Back from sick bed in a storming way. Best on the paddock, with great roaming runs and support play mixed with a tonne of solid hits and abrasiveness round fringes.

The big lineout target, though not too much else. Did well to lock up French maul and win turnover.

Spilled opening kickoff, but improved plenty from there. Great early charge, decent link work and runs in middle. Had ball ripped when tryline beckoned, but made amends with 52nd-minute score with strong carry.

One penalty for collapsed scrum, but otherwise solid at the set-piece.

Dominic Bird 6: Patrick Tuipulotu 8: Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen 6: Nathan Harris 6:

Earned tighthead win on first scrum, but couple of average lineout throws.

Solid scrummaging, but opposite Malik Hamadache charged out of his grasp in open play, and he had a pass intercepted off an unintended lineout win.

Tim Perry 6: RESERVES: Asafo Aumua 6:

(66th min for Harris) Won crucial turnover in tandem with Hunt with three minutes to play, but bad lineout throw after.

(57th min for Perry) First taste of the All Blacks, and on unfamiliar loosehead side, which ABs are keen on shifting him to. Shunted back in first scrum, but got better.

(66th min for Toomaga-Allen) Hiding to nothing in getting run around by Macalou leading to late French try. Huge last scrum left him able to smile.

(66th min for Tuipulotu) Showed keenness and awareness by diving on loose ruck ball twice.

(53rd min for Squire) First wearing of ABs jersey injected immediate desire within. Took ball immediately on entrance, then went on a brilliant run upfield but couldn’t link up. (70th min for Savea)

(70th min for

Atu Moli 6: Ofa Tu’ungafasi 5: Scott Barrett 6: Akira Ioane 8: Dillon Hunt N/R Mitch Drummond N/R

Kerr-Barlow)

Richie Mo’unga 7:

(53rd min for Sopoaga) First ABs experience and quickly involved in try with a simple pass for Laumape. Fumbled a low ball but advantage was played anyway, then scrambled well a couple of times.