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McKenzie stars as New Zealand inflict heartbreak upon Scotland / Photo: ANDY BUCHANAN - AFP
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McKenzie stars as New Zealand inflict heartbreak upon Scotland
Damian McKenzie's try six minutes from time helped leave Scotland still searching for their first victory over New Zealand as the All Blacks withstood a second-half fightback to win 25-17 at Murrayfield on Saturday.
In a match marking the centenary of Murrayfield, Scotland trailed 17-0 at half-time after New Zealand's Cam Roigard and Will Jordan scored tries converted by Beauden Barrett, who also kicked a penalty.
Scotland hit back after the break with 17 points from converted tries by Ewan Ashman and Kyle Steyn and fly-half Finn Russell's penalty to set up a tense final quarter.
Replacement back McKenzie's try edged New Zealand ahead before his 79th-minute penalty ensured the All Blacks 31st win in 33 Tests against Scotland over 120 years.
Victory also maintained New Zealand's bid for a Grand Slam tour of wins over the Home Nations -- England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
It took New Zealand just three minutes to open the scoring.
Second-row Josh Lord, in for captain Scott Barrett, injured in last weekend's 26-13 win over Ireland in Chicago, burst through a ruck and stood up Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn before releasing scrum-half Roigard for a try between the posts.
Fly-half Beauden Barrett converted and New Zealand led 7-0.
Barrett's close-range penalty on the half hour after Scotland strayed offside extended New Zealand's to 10-0.
The All Blacks were reduced to 14 men when Leroy Carter was yellow-carded for a deliberate trip on opposing wing Darcy Graham seven minutes before the interval.
Scotland pressed for a score to get back into the game but outside centre Rory Hutchinson was held up over New Zealand's try-line.
The All Blacks punished Scotland's failure to take their chances with a try on the stroke of half-time.
New Zealand broke down the blindside, with Wallace Sititi beating Graham before, with Kinghorn again in no-man's land, releasing Jordan for the impressive full-back's 44th try in 52 Tests.
Barrett added the extras and New Zealand were in command at 17-0.
Scotland gave themselves hope in the 46th minute when hooker Ashman got the ball down for a try converted by Russell.
New Zealand captain Ardie Savea was shown a yellow card for trying to halt Scotland illegally.
Scotland made their advantage count when wing Kyle Steyn, preferred by coach Gregor Townsend to joint record try-scorer Duhan van der Merwe, went over, following a powerful carry from skipper Sione Tuipulotu and a pass from Russell, for a 51st-minute try.
Russell converted and New Zealand's lead had been cut to just three points to the delight of a raucous Murrayfield.
It the looked like Scotland wing Darcy Graham was in for a try at the corner but he dropped the ball diving over the line under pressure from Roigard's superb cover tackle.
Russell's penalty levelled the match at 17-17, with Sititi then receiving New Zealand's third yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.
New Zealand replacement McKenzie's superb long-range kick left the All Blacks just metres away from Scotland's line.
The All Blacks declined a kickable penalty in favour of a close-range line-out and, with the ball worked across field, McKenzie scooped a loose pass off the turf and kept his balance as Kinghorn and George Turner closed in for a try at the corner.
McKenzie could not convert his own score but soon made amends with a clinching penalty.
(R.White--TAG)
