All Blacks survive Scotland scare
Ryan Crotty of All Black is tackled by Alex Dunbar of Scotland during the Viagogo Autumn International match between Scotland and New Zealand at Murrayfield Stadium on November 15, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
(November 14, 2014 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)
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Ben Smith of the All Blacks is tackled by Ross Ford of Scotland during the Viagogo Autumn International match between Scotland and New Zealand at Murrayfield Stadium on November 15, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland
(November 14, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images Europe)
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Jeremy Thrush's late try finally killed off a valiant Scottish challenge as New Zealand scrapped to a 24-16 win at Murrayfield.
The Scots performed exceptionally, acquitting themselves with more grit and more aptitude than in any recent encounters with the World Champions, keeping pace with a much-changed, but nonetheless exemplary All Blacks unit until the 74th minute, and recording their narrowest defeat in this fixture for 23 years.
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Jeremy Thrush of the All Blacks is tackled during the Viagogo Autumn International match between Scotland and New Zealand at Murrayfield Stadium on November 15, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland
(November 14, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images Europe)
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Victor Vito of the All Balcks scores a try during the Viagogo Autumn International match between Scotland and New Zealand at Murrayfield Stadium on November 15, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
(November 14, 2014 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)
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Man of the match: Jeremy Thrush made yards aplenty in the loose, tackled fiercely, was at the coalface throughout a dominant scrummaging display and scored the all-important try.
Moment of the match: Greig Laidlaw's miss. Ten minutes is a long time to play against New Zealand, but with the scoreboard and the crowd behind them, who knows what might have been...
Villain of the match: A few spats, but nothing too sinister to report.
Colin Slade of the All Blacks is tackled by Alex Dunbar of Scotland during the Viagogo Autumn International match between Scotland and New Zealand at Murrayfield Stadium on November 15, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland
(November 14, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images Europe)
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Malakai Fekitoa of the All Blacks is tackled during the Viagogo Autumn International match between Scotland and New Zealand at Murrayfield Stadium on November 15, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland
(November 14, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images Europe)
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Greig Laidlaw of Scotland stands alone in front of Victor Vito and the All Balcks during the Viagogo Autumn International match between Scotland and New Zealand at Murrayfield Stadium on November 15, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
(November 14, 2014 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)
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All Black captain Richie McCaw (L) during the Viagogo Autumn International match between Scotland and New Zealand at Murrayfield Stadium on November 15, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland
(November 14, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images Europe)
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Ryan Crotty of the All Blacks is tackled by Alex Dunbar of Scotland during the Viagogo Autumn International match between Scotland and New Zealand at Murrayfield Stadium on November 15, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland
(November 14, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images Europe)
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next test:
22 nov
Wales v NZ
Millennium Stadium
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Scotland v Tonga
- Rugby Park / Kilmarnock
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