Scotland reaction: Frustration, the New Zealand gut punch and Finn Russell injury concern

The home side trailed 17-0 at half-time but dominated after the interval, scoring 17 unanswered points to turn the game around. But they also squandered a handful of opportunities during the third quarter, allowing the All Blacks back into the match in the final stages.

The visitors scored a try through Damian McKenzie in the 74th minute with the only chance they created in the second half and it proved decisive, with the New Zealand replacement also adding a late penalty to make sure.

“After half-time, there was a lot more pride than frustration,” said Townsend, the Scotland head coach. “We needed to come back in terms of the scoreboard and how well New Zealand were playing. They were outstanding.

“But there was obviously frustration, probably more at 14-17 than 17-all. We had three chances to go ahead and I think that would have made a massive difference.”

Ewan Ashman, who scored Scotland’s first try, had another opportunity but was stopped short as he galloped down the left wing. Kyle Steyn added a second for Scotland to really lift the Murrayfield crowd but scrum-half Ben White just couldn't twist his way to the line from close range soon after.

Darcy Graham was then denied in the corner by Cam Roigard before Jack Dempsey was halted on the New Zealand 22 after a brilliant interception by the Scotland No 8.

Finn Russell’s 60th-minute penalty brought the Scots level at 17-17 but they couldn’t edge ahead, despite their domination at that point.

Momentum wasn’t taken

“It was right to take the penalty and go 17-all because the momentum was all with us,” added Townsend. “But the momentum was with us at 17-14 and that [another try] would have forced New Zealand to do something different. So yeah, they had one opportunity in the second half.

“They took it and the game changed massively. We had many more. We took some of them, but we didn't take that one extra that would have put us into the lead going into the last 15 minutes. So that's frustrating.”

Roigard and Will Jordan had scored first-half tries for the All Blacks, both of which were converted by Beauden Barrett who also landed a penalty to give the visitors a 17-0 half-time lead.

New Zealand had three players yellow-carded, Leroy Carter in the first half and Ardie Savea and Wallace Sititi in the second, but Scotland couldn’t take advantage fully, scoring one try but also conceding one when the All Blacks were down to 14 men.

Sione Tuipulotu, the home captain, felt the team had played some of the best rugby of his time as a Scotland player.

“I don't want to get up here and say I'm proud of the group and we played well because I think we're a better team than that now,” said Tuipulotu. “And we showed in that game that we could have got what we wanted and what we came here to do today which was a win.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow right now. Me and the group and the coaches are hurting as you can imagine. That game felt a little bit different to the one three years ago when we were up at 60 [minutes, before New Zealand came back to win 31-23].

“I just felt like the momentum shift that happened around 45-50 minutes was probably one of the biggest that I've ever seen in a game I’ve played in. The rugby we were playing in that block of 20 minutes, it felt pretty close to inevitable [that we were going to win], you know? The way we were moving the ball and getting to contacts and wide breakdowns and putting them under pressure and forcing their discipline, dragging a few yellow cards and stuff like that.

“I felt like that period there was some of the best rugby that I've been a part of when I've been playing for Scotland. But when the scoreline was 17-17, I thought maybe we could have stayed a little bit more aggressive. That was what was working. But we'll have to look back at that.”

The ‘gut punch’ for Scotland

McKenzie, who came on at the start of the second half, turned out to be the match-winner. His 50-22 kick deep into Scottish territory in the 70th minute turned the game back in New Zealand’s favour and the Chiefs back then finished brilliantly in the corner four minutes later.

Tuipulotu said McKenzie’s 50-22 felt like “a gut-punch”.

“Jeez, you're at 17-all and he puts one right over five metres out from the line. It's a gut-punch, but we understand that's the type of players that they have in their changing room. We still stood there and defended our line well and made them score right in the far corner. And McKenzie had a really good finish there. [But] I thought we dominated that second half in every way.”

Finn Russell sustained a knee injury after 17 minutes and played on with a heavy strapping but then also hurt his ankle and had to come off with five minutes remaining.

“His knee was the initial injury and I thought he was outstanding even though he had that knee strain,” said Townsend. “And the reason we took him off is just because he had an ankle too, so there were two injuries he was carrying. He doesn't think they'll be serious, but it's obviously too early to say.

“But during that period, I think just after his knee injury, he had a great 50-22. He was very physical in defence and was obviously a big part of our attack. So we hope he'll be fit for next week, but we have to deal with injuries.”

Scotland play Argentina at Murrayfield next Sunday, while New Zealand head to Twickenham to take on England on Saturday.