New Zealand Beat Scotland 43-21 at Murrayfield as Ashman Hat-Trick Goes in Vain

Scotland have still never beaten New Zealand. The home side came close to a famous first half lead at Murrayfield on Saturday, led by a hat-trick from hooker Ewan Ashman, but the All Blacks scored 19 points without reply after the break to win 43-21 in the Nations Championship.

A first half of seven tries

New Zealand opened the scoring through Wallace Sititi, and Ethan de Groot and Peter Lakai also crossed in a first half that produced seven tries in total, Reuters reported. Scotland answered each time through Ashman, who drove over from close range and finished a break for his second before completing his hat-trick in the 37th minute from another lineout maul, RugbyPass reported.

Ashman became the first Scot to score a hat-trick against New Zealand, and only the fifth player ever to score three tries in a match against the All Blacks, RugbyPass reported. Finn Russell converted all three tries. Beauden Barrett scored the fourth New Zealand try of the half, and the visitors led 24-21 at the break despite playing part of the half with 14 men after sin bins.

New Zealand pull away after the break

Scotland did not score a point in the second half. Josh Moorby and Barrett scored in quick succession after the restart, on either side of a yellow card for Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu, and Asafo Aumua completed the scoring, SA Rugby Magazine reported.

Barrett finished with two tries, taking his test tally to 50, Reuters reported. Wallace Sititi, Ethan de Groot, Peter Lakai, Josh Moorby and Asafo Aumua scored the other New Zealand tries, and Damian McKenzie kicked four conversions. For Scotland, the scoring was Ashman three tries and Russell three conversions.

A record that still stands

The win was New Zealand's 32nd in 34 tests against Scotland, with two draws, in a fixture that dates back to 1905, SA Rugby Magazine reported. Scotland, coached by Gregor Townsend, have never won it. New Zealand, coached by Dave Rennie, stayed unbeaten in the Nations Championship and moved level with South Africa on 20 points in the southern hemisphere standings, the magazine reported.

Scotland will take the first half with them. For 40 minutes they matched the All Blacks try for try and trailed by three points. The second half told the older story: New Zealand tightened up, took their chances, and Scotland faded.