Dalziel takes heart for clash with Ireland despite defeat

Scotland produced their most competitive age-grade performance to date against New Zealand in the opening Pool B match of the World Rugby under-20 Championship at the AIA Arena in Georgia’s second city, Kutaisi.

However, they still fell well short against the five-times title winners.

The Scots’ losing margin, inflated by an 80th-minute try from flying winger Tima Faingaanuku to complete a hattrick, has to be seen in the context of previous defeats, most recently their 68-10 drubbing by the Baby Blacks in Italy two years ago.

Scotland’s U20 head coach, John Dalziel, while disappointed with the result felt that there was enough in his side’s display to feel a degree of confidence ahead of the Scots’ meeting with Ireland on Sunday at the same ground.

Individually winger Ross McCann showed up well for Scotland, the flip-side of which was a disappointing kicking display from the Edinburgh full-back Blair Kinghorn who missed all three goal attempts in the first half.

Among the forwards former Dunfermline prop Adam Nicol provided solidity to the Scotland scrum that had struggled early in the match while in the back row former Strathallan player Matt Fagerson impressed.

Despite Kinghorn’s failure to put the ball between the uprights Scotland were still in the game at half time when they trailed 10-19 having scored two tries and having defended well against a dangerous New Zealand side.

Hawick’s Fraser Renwick scored the first from a driven line-out before his clubmate Darcy Graham ran in a sublime score after the forwards had again done the groundwork. Then in the second half an Eastgate penalty narrowed the lead only for New Zealand to reply immediately.

The Scots’ third try came from replacement Henderson.

Heartened by young Scots’ play: coach John Dalziel.