New Zealand make their Scotland stance clear - 'we don't want it to happen'

They first faced each other at Inverleith in 1905 and the tone was pretty much set. The Scots, opting for an experimental formation involving three half-backs, lost 12-7.

In 32 meetings between the sides, New Zealand have won 30 and two games have been drawn. Scotland, who welcome the All Blacks back to Edinburgh this weekend, are still seeking that elusive first win, 120 years on.

Not surprisingly, New Zealand captain Ardie Savea does not want to be part of history on Saturday.

“You don't want to be the first team [that loses], so that puts us on edge a bit,” said the experienced flanker who was in the side which won at Murrayfield in 2022.

“We also understand Scotland's mindset and how much it will mean to them. It builds appropriate fear and we don't want it to happen. We've prepared well, done what we can do through the week, now it's just about turning up and playing.”

Savea, one of four survivors from the starting All Blacks side that defeated Scotland three years ago, has been awarded the captaincy this week in the absence of Scott Barrett, who was ruled out by an injury sustained in the win over Ireland in Chicago.

It seems unlikely to phase the back-rower who has been capped 104 times and has skippered the team before. He seemed more concerned about the threat Finn Russell is likely to pose. Asked how New Zealand would go about stopping the Scotland stand-off, Savea said: “I don't know if there's a way. It's the beauty of a world-class player like Finn, he's unpredictable. He does things no other players can do and I don't think we can prepare.

“We've just got to nail our stuff in what we do and understand what he can bring and just try and shut his time down. He's a world-class player and I'm really looking forward to playing against him.”

New Zealand show plenty of respect

New Zealand didn’t get where they are today by needlessly winding up the opposition and Savea was diplomacy personified as he fielded questions on the side of the Murrayfield pitch on Friday. Having just put the finishing touches to their final training session before an invited audience of All Blacks supporters, Savea was respectful but also mindful of how close the games between the sides in Edinburgh have been in recent years, with the visitors winning 24-16 in 2014, 22-17 in 2017 and 31-23 in 2022.

The sides don’t play as often as Scotland would like but a special request was made for the All Blacks to visit this year as part of Murrayfield’s centenary celebrations and Savea seemed genuinely delighted to be here.

“It's an amazing place to play,” he said. “Scotland are a quality side and I think the last three games we've played it's been within seven or eight points. It's no easy feat, so we understand the challenge ahead and we're really excited to come here and play.”

“We respect Murrayfield and Scotland hugely. The best way we can show that respect is by turning up and playing well and giving the fans what they deserve. It's a spectacle and I know Scotland will be relishing this moment too, two world-class teams coming together and celebrating a great occasion.”

New Zealand took a long time to build their way into the game against Ireland at Soldier Field but they came good in the end, winning 26-13 thanks to tries from Savea, Tamaiti Williams, Wallace Sititi and Cam Roigard.

While it was a strong final quarter, Savea will look for a more complete performance on Saturday as the tourists look to win the second leg of a potential grand slam tour, with games against England and Wales still to come.

“I think we were winning small moments and then we're handing the ball back through inaccuracy and indiscipline,” he said. “We just need to be ruthless in those moments when we get a chance and stack moments. That helps build pressure and builds momentum for us.

“It's not like it's going to be an easy feat tomorrow, but we just need to turn up physically and mentally and be prepared.”

One quirk of Saturday will be the kits. Scotland usually don their change strip when they host New Zealand but on this occasion they will wear dark blue, with a retro-style jersey having been specially commissioned to mark 100 years of Murrayfield.

It means the All Blacks will be in all white.

“I think it's special because we're wearing the poppy,” said Savea. “But for me, whether it's black or white, putting on the All Black jersey is pretty special.”