5 questions for Cotter

1 ARE SCOTLAND AS GOOD AS THE PERFORMANCE FOR THE FIRST 60 MINUTES AGAINST ARGENTINA SUGGESTED? Scotland were superb last weekend for three quarters of the match but lost three tries in the last 20 minutes. They had to play with just 14 men for that period after two consecutive yellow cards. The Scots will need an 80-minute performance, and must avoid the sin bin.

2 IS THE SCOTLAND BENCH STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? New Zealand have the likes of Sonny Bill Williams in reserve in case their relatively inexperienced team don’t perform. Scotland don’t have any real game-changers on their bench, which could make it difficult for them as the game progresses.

3 WILL THE OCCASION GET TO THE TWO NEW ZEALAND-BORN PLAYERS IN HIS TEAM? Cotter is a proud Kiwi and admits to being excited about taking on the All Blacks as a coach. Sean Maitland and Blair Cowan are in the same boat but they can’t let the big occasion affect their play. They have to treat it as just another game.

4 CAN HIS TEAM KEEP NEW ZEALAND PLAYMAKER DAN CARTER QUIET? If Scotland want to take the game to the All Blacks, they will have to keep close tabs on the world’s best stand-off. He has the ability to pin the hosts back in their own half so can’t be given time and space on the ball. Having been out of the international game for a year, there’s hope he might be a little rusty — but it’s more likely that class is permanent.

5 WILL THE SUPERB SURFACE PLAY INTO NEW ZEALAND’S HANDS? Scotland ran in five tries against Argentina last weekend and the pitch allowed them to play some excellent open rugby. In previous years, the Kiwis have played on a Murrayfield pitch that cut up badly and still won easily. The new surface could play right into their hands.