'He didn't want to swap' - why Scotland star gave New Zealand rival his jersey but never got one back in return

The frustration at not being able to win the match was palpable among the players who spoke to the media afterwards in the bowels of Murrayfield, but for Brown, he more than proved he belongs at this level.

The flanker was one Scotland’s top performers as they fought back from 17-0 down to draw level at 17-17 midway through the second half. Unfortunately for the home side, New Zealand pulled away to win 25-17 with eight points in the final six minutes and Brown doesn’t even have a rival’s jersey as a souvenir.

It turned out that Wallace Sititi, his opposite number, wasn’t keen to swap. Unusually, the All Blacks were wearing mostly white at Murrayfield - it is normally Scotland who wear their change kit when they host New Zealand - and Sititi wanted to hang on to his jersey.

Generously, Brown still handed over one of the special jerseys worn by Scotland to mark the centenary of Murrayfield.

“We were wearing the special 100th anniversary shirt which is pretty cool,” said Brown. “So, we got two of them to swap with the other team. And it was cool wearing the new kit with the old school thistle on it walking in.

“Wallace actually didn't want to swap because he wanted to keep his. But I gave him my match top just because we get two. And I can respect they don't play in white that often. So I think he wanted to keep his.”

‘Game was there for the taking’

Frustration was the overriding emotion for the Scotland players and management team after they weren’t able to complete the comeback and clinch a first ever win over New Zealand. It’s the fourth time in a row they’ve been edged out at Murrayfield by the All Blacks over the past 11 years.

“We felt that that game was there for the taking,” said Brown. “We had points [on the board] in the second half. But also really proud of the effort.

“Coming in 17-0 down at halftime, there was never any worry among us in the changing room that the game was away from us. We knew we got held up [over the New Zealand line] a couple of times in that first half and they took their chances and that was literally it in that first half.

“And we knew if we could just tighten the screw a little bit then we'd get ourselves right back in the game and we did that. So, it's pretty frustrating that we didn't manage to finish it off.”

Scotland return to action on Sunday when they host Argentina before completing their autumn Test programme against Tonga on November 23.

“We've still got two more games left in this series and to finish on a high note by winning both of them is going to be absolutely massive for us,” added Brown who won his 11th cap at the weekend.

“It’s still pretty surreal to be honest. Every time you play for Scotland, get off the bus, sing the anthem, it kind of feels like the first time you've ever pulled on the jersey. So, I just try and give my best and I've definitely felt that having played a few more Tests now that I'm taking the learnings from previous Tests.

“There’s stuff that you can't really get away with that you can at club level and it’s about putting them into place.”

Having started against France in the second row during the Six Nations and then been selected at blindside flanker, Brown has shown versatility against two of the best teams in the world. He said he doesn’t have a favoured position.

“Second row definitely involves a lot more of what I guess some people would call the grunt work in the middle. Which, again, I actually enjoy doing. Six gives you a few more opportunities in the shape that we play to be out on that edge, have a little bit more space to get those long missed-pass balls from the centres which I enjoy.

“Each has their pros and cons but I'm never going to say no to playing for Scotland in any of those jerseys.”

It’s the All Blacks jersey that has so far proven elusive for Brown.