'A lot bigger than rugby': All Blacks turn to Ka Mate to honour 'fallen brother' against Scotland

The team camp was struck with the devastating news that Logan Cadwallader, their head of security, had suddenly passed away in Edinburgh on Sunday morning. The task for the players now is to try and channel their loss into honouring a friend and colleague with a fitting performance on the pitch against Scotland.

It will begin with a moment of important cultural significance as captain Codie Taylor revealed they will perform the traditional Ka Mate Haka instead of the more modern Kapa O Pango. The Ka Mate dates back to the 1820s and has been performed by the All Blacks for over a century while the Kapa O Pango was first used in 2005.

‘Fierce Warriors’ - All Blacks captain explains significance of Ka Mate as players honour SAS veteran

The newer adaptation of the Māori war dance is seen as more intense, featuring the distinctive gesture of drawing the thumb across the throat, while the original bears more historic significance. Taylor explained why the Ka Mate sends a fitting message, particularly as they also honour Armistice Day, to a man who served in both the New Zealand Army and Special Air Service with distinction.

Taylor said: “We made a call earlier in the week that Logan would want us to kick on and get stuck into what's an important week for us. I feel like we've done really well.

“We've prepared well. Everyone's really clear on what's required and now it's just about going out there tomorrow.

“We’ve acknowledged all the emotions and the feelings that we were going through, the grief, and management in particular have taken a lot on themselves. I know how much a lot of them are hurting, but they know the importance of what it means to prepare for this team to go out there and be successful.

“We're going to acknowledge it tomorrow through the black arm band. We're wearing the poppy as well, it's sort of fitting in a way, to represent those who have fallen, and then also our brother Logan, a servant in the SAS.

“We're going to do Ka Mate tomorrow to pay homage to Armistice Day, as well as Logan. They talk about being fierce warriors, the SAS, and Ka Mate is the way we're going to show that.

“This week's been a lot bigger than rugby. We're well aware of that, but we also know that the best way we can show our respect is through rugby and the game we love. That's our focus tomorrow, is to show our respect through putting in a good performance for our brother and for our country.”

A win for New Zealand over Scotland will extend their unbeaten run in this fixture to 34 Test matches without defeat. The fact that an All Blacks side has never lost to the Scots is a statistic that Taylor says they are aware of, but not one he believes has any real bearing ahead of Saturday’s clash.

Instead, the hooker is far more interested in the recent history between the two nations with the last four encounters all decided within a ten point margin of victory for the visitors. Last year’s 25-17 win in Edinburgh in particular is a match they have dissected a length to prepare for this upcoming Nations Championship contest.

“We're well aware of the standing record, if you want to call it that,” the All Blacks skipper explained. “I think we know it's going to be a tight game, the history would say that.

“I think this game is all about us fronting up physically, being a lot more accurate than we were last time. We started really well, and then all of a sudden it was 17-17. If we can start the way we did last year and then hold on and keep applying pressure, then that's what we're trying to achieve.

“They [Scotland] attack really well. Their backs play really good rugby with what's in front of them.

“Physically, their forward pack back their maul, so they get downhill when they've got game lines. Really, it's just about us fronting up, getting in front of them.

“When we get an opportunity with the boards, being able to make sure that we can have all options on and really test them as well. The last four tests we've played here have actually been really close.

“Scotland have a lot of belief, they're a great side. They play a pretty special brand of rugby, so we're aware of their threats, but also excited about if we get a couple of things right within our game then we think we can have a good day.”

Saturday’s fixture will be Scotland's first since the summer trio of Nations Championship Test matches which ended with a 33-17 win over Fiji at Murrayfield after defeat in South Africa and a victory away to Argentina. The All Blacks, meanwhile, have played six Test matches since then - one win and three defeats versus South Africa and two victories over Australia.

The losses in particular have shown the New Zealand players where they need to step up, with Taylor explaining: “I think what we've realised is that physicality is one of the most important things when playing Test footy. If you confront physically and get over the top of the team, then you're going to have a good day.

“We found that out probably the hard way in South Africa, and then we were able to impose ourselves a little bit against Australia. Scotland are a physical team, they love getting downhill.

“They've got some big boys, so we're going to have to front up on D. Then when we get an opportunity, it's making sure that we can get over the game line and play the game we want to.”

Get our rugby newsletter by clicking here