Carter stars as ABs smash Scots
11 Nov 2012
JON CARDINELLI reports on the All Blacks’ effortless 51-22 victory against Scotland on Sunday.
New Zealand operated at a low gear for much of this contest. There were times when they stepped up the intensity and produced some magical attacking touches, where they exhibited the high level of execution that we’ve come to expect from the best team on the planet. But for the most part, they didn’t control the game by playing for territory, and their defence wasn’t up to its usual high standards.
Perhaps the inconsistency was down to the changes made by coach Steve Hansen for this particular fixture. Perhaps it was down to motivation. Indeed, while the All Blacks played the game at breakneck speed, they weren’t at their combative best. Then again, they didn’t need to be.
Dan Carter made an early error to give the Scottish optimists hope. In the build up, Scotland had spoken about rush defence tactics keeping the New Zealanders at bay. This paid dividends early on, with centre Matt Scott intercepting a pass made by Carter. Scott then found Tim Visser in support, and the Flying Dutchman finished what would be the first of his two tries.
But the Scots failed to maintain that defensive pressure. Carter made amends for that no-look pass soon after by making two linebreaks in a subsequent movement. The Scots were punished for standing off the All Blacks flyhalf, as Carter’s second break led to the simplest of tries for Israel Dagg.
While the All Blacks underperformed in certain areas, Carter was in sublime form in front of goal. He finished the match with figures of nine from 10, and a personal tally of 21 points.
Carter also had a hand in several of the All Blacks’ tries. The visitors played the game at a furious pace, making easy ground and linebreaks through the inside channels.
Once the initial break was made, men like Carter were key in identifying the space, and across the board, the All Blacks’ handling skills and finishing was excellent.
Scotland No 7 Ross Rennie was injured early in the match, and the hosts battled to compete at the breakdown thereafter. The absence of a genuine openside meant that Scotland had nobody to slow down the All Blacks’ ruck recycle. This in turn made it difficult for the Scots’ line defence, as there was not much time to realign.
The All Blacks conceded three tries in this fixture, and this will annoy the coaching staff. Scotland did well to take three chances. If they had been more clinical, they may have scored another when All Blacks No 6 Adam Thomson was in the sin bin if they had only secured a lineout throw on the opposition try-line. As it transpired, they only succeeded in handing possession back to the All Blacks.
It’s frightening to think about how much further damage a full strength All Blacks’ side, or indeed one operating at full intensity, may have inflicted on Scotland. The All Blacks cruised to a 51-22 victory on Sunday without producing their most polished display. It’s a simple truth that highlights the gulf in quality between the world champions and the Six Nations stragglers.
342 Comments
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11 Nov 2012, 17:45 pm
Good try Scotland.
Heyneke Meyer will be having his second consecutive sleepless night after this Scot performance.
11 Nov 2012, 17:46 pm
Good on Scotland, keep plugging away. Hard work in unison is always rewarded.
11 Nov 2012, 17:47 pm
Is 22 the greatest score ever for the Cavemen against NZ?
11 Nov 2012, 17:47 pm
@Slumtown-100:
The half time kick in the nuts must have helped a bit. It’s always a belief thing with Scotland I reckon and a few tries will already help the confidence no matter what happens now.
I certainly don’t think they are as scared of the Boks as they are of the AB aura, if you catch my meaning, and I don’t mean that as disrespectful.
11 Nov 2012, 17:48 pm
Finally we can say Scots know how to score tries vs the big boys. It won’t be enough this time to break 107 years duck but pleasing for fans nevertheless.
11 Nov 2012, 17:49 pm
@JockBok-104: and quite rightly so. Boks have been rubbish this year.
11 Nov 2012, 17:49 pm
@AiDoc-103:
What’s the Cavemen thing all about? Is it meant to be funny because it’s obviously not based on any truth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_inventions_and_discoveries
11 Nov 2012, 17:50 pm
Spear tackle !!
11 Nov 2012, 17:51 pm
Tough call that one
11 Nov 2012, 17:54 pm
Legit penalty to the Scots, but this Davies chop is flabbergasted. Even as the replay show him to be a complete drunk fool, he still goes on about how harsh it is. Lock is lying 100% on the ground, much as if he is taking a nap, as he finally steals the ball. And Davies says “look there, now he’s got it, on his feet”. Is he part of an outreach programme to put feeble minded individuals in jobs?
11 Nov 2012, 17:54 pm
This ref has not heard about the five second rule.
11 Nov 2012, 17:55 pm
Jockieeeeeeeeeeeeee!
11 Nov 2012, 17:56 pm
awesome look forward to seeing Kerr Barlow
11 Nov 2012, 17:56 pm
Congrats Dane Coles and Kerr-Barlow, always great to see debutants.
11 Nov 2012, 17:57 pm
Who here dares call my Scotties cavemen.
11 Nov 2012, 17:57 pm
“Good technique” gushes the Welsh imbecile as the Kiwi blasts it directly into touch.
Reminds me of the old Afrikaans commentator: “En hy rol en hy rol… en hy’s direk uit.”
11 Nov 2012, 17:57 pm
Great Try!!!!!
11 Nov 2012, 17:58 pm
A brace for Savea
11 Nov 2012, 17:58 pm
Is this Visser a Scot SA?
11 Nov 2012, 17:58 pm
Hey Dawn
oopsy!!!
11 Nov 2012, 17:58 pm
@Dawn-119: Dootch.
11 Nov 2012, 17:59 pm
Heyneke, if you want to play a kicking game, this is how it is done!
Watch and learn.
11 Nov 2012, 17:59 pm
Brain will always concur brawn. That is how to do it.
So very simple.
11 Nov 2012, 17:59 pm
@Dawn-119:
He’s Dutch but has played all his rugby in Scotland.
11 Nov 2012, 18:00 pm
Scots are doing better than SA did last night
11 Nov 2012, 18:02 pm
Visser is a NH ********
11 Nov 2012, 18:02 pm
Julian Savea scores from a cross kick, something James Small fed off in the early 90′s.
11 Nov 2012, 18:02 pm
Observations.
Cory’s hair hasn’t moved all game long
Israel Dagg indeed does do more than Zane.
11 Nov 2012, 18:02 pm
@ET.-123:
Brain will always ‘concur’ brawn?
Some things never change around here I guess.
11 Nov 2012, 18:03 pm
@AiDoc-126:
….and the cavemen jibes?
11 Nov 2012, 18:03 pm
Howzit Jock
Knew I’d find you here!
11 Nov 2012, 18:05 pm
Is Extraball going to Antarctica?
11 Nov 2012, 18:05 pm
@Dawn-131:
And I concur, you have indeed. Did you know that brain concurs brawn btw?
11 Nov 2012, 18:06 pm
I’m in love with Richie GRAY not mccaw
11 Nov 2012, 18:07 pm
I do not concur that brain concurs brawn
11 Nov 2012, 18:09 pm
This Movember don’t work for me
11 Nov 2012, 18:09 pm
@Dawn-135:
I concur with your concurrence.
11 Nov 2012, 18:10 pm
A person from Holland is censoredz??
11 Nov 2012, 18:11 pm
@Dawn-136: Are you giving up already?
11 Nov 2012, 18:13 pm
Katters my moustache won’t grow
11 Nov 2012, 18:13 pm
Ref missed the knock on, Carter = Class
11 Nov 2012, 18:13 pm
A New Zealand journo called them the Cavemen of rugby and the Scots took umbrage and banned reporters from his paper at a press conference.
11 Nov 2012, 18:14 pm
Ja they should censor your repeated “caveman” yammerings too
11 Nov 2012, 18:15 pm
Flashes of brilliance but really this all black team is K A K
11 Nov 2012, 18:15 pm
@Dawn-140: Spread fishpaste on your lip for a week or two.
11 Nov 2012, 18:15 pm
Is this the end of the Scot’s 2nd innings?
51 for 22 wks.?
11 Nov 2012, 18:16 pm
@JockBok-129:
11 Nov 2012, 18:16 pm
@Dawn-140:
Be creative.
@AiDoc-142:
Ah, I never heard that. And I hereby apologise for any nasty thoughts I may have had about you calling us names
11 Nov 2012, 18:17 pm
No thanks
11 Nov 2012, 18:18 pm
51-22, moneys worth, 73 points in 80 minutes, top weekend.
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