Scotland has not beaten New Zealand in 25 attempts but coach Frank Hadden reckons dismantling the All Blacks machine is hardly rocket science.
Hadden has named a second-string team to face the tournament favourites but the Scotland coach insists his players will back themselves for an upset win in Sunday’s Pool C match in Edinburgh.
“It’s pretty simple beating the All Blacks, in my opinion,” Hadden told reporters.
“If we do what we have been practising better than they do what they have been practising, we will win the game.”
Hadden has rested his top-shelf players with an eye towards keeping them fresh for the key match against Italy on 29 September in St Etienne.
“The Scotland team that plays on Sunday will undoubtedly do their country proud,” Hadden said in defence of his controversial decision.
“It’ll be a fantastic match. I have told the guys already that I trust them and I believe in them.”
Scotland’s star fly half Dan Parks and flanker Allister Hogg, who scored three tries in the 42-0 win over Romania on Tuesday, have been named on the bench.
Scott Murray will captain his country for the first time in three years in the absence of rested flanker Jason White, while prop Alasdair Dickinson and flanker John Barclay will debut for Scotland.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named a near full-strength side for the match at Murrayfield, where his team should receive plenty of support from their travelling fans.
Flanker Reuben Thorne has shifted to the second row, replacing the injured Keith Robinson, while Leon MacDonald replaces the injured Mils Muliaina at full back.
Blindside flanker Jerry Collins will miss the match, in which the All Blacks will wear silver jerseys, and second row Chris Jack is on the bench.
New Zealand defeated Scotland 29-10 in the last match between the countries in November, 2005 at Murrayfield.
Narrative courtesy of the IRB
Referee: Marius Jonker
Touch judges: Paul Marks, Dave Pearson
Television match official: Hugh Watkins
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie
Television Coverage: On SS1 at 16:45
Teams:
Scotland:
Stating XV: 1 Alasdair Dickinson, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Craig Smith, 4 Scott MacLeod, 5 Scott Murray (c), 6 Kelly Brown, 7 John Barclay, 8 David Callam, 9 Chris Cusiter, 10 Chris Paterson, 11 Simon Webster, 12 Andrew Henderson, 13 Marcus Di Rollo, 14 Nikki Walker, 15 Hugo Southwell.
Replacements: 16 Fergus Thomson, 17 Gavin Kerr, 18 Jim Hamilton, 19 Allister Hogg, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Dan Parks, 22 Rob Dewey.
New Zealand:
Starting XV: 1 Tony Woodcock, 2 Anton Oliver, 3 Carl Hayman, 4 Reuben Thorne, 5 Ali Williams, 6 Chris Masoe, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 8 Rodney So’oialo, 9 Byron Kelleher, 10 Dan Carter, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 12 Luke McAlister, 13 Conrad Smith, 14 Doug Howlett, 15 Leon MacDonald.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Chris Jack, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Nick Evans, 22 Isaia Toeava.
September 23rd, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Scots hoisted the white flag when they announced the team for today. That attitude grates me a bit. Hope they concede plenty points.
September 23rd, 2007 at 4:59 pm
NZ are usually pretty good with dealing with minnows in a ruthless fashion. Best the Scots lube up.
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:00 pm
New Haka?
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Ridiculous.
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:02 pm
MVS
Didn’t see the Haka, but I do know that they have said they will use different Haka’s during the tournament. So it could well be.
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:10 pm
IT was Kapa O Pango…
Almost impossible to tell the difference between their jerseys… now thats ridiculous…
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:14 pm
23-0 NZ 25min to go…
Scot 2nd stringers still need to score! If Portugal can…
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Just about the time the gates should open……
I have them by 41 on SB i think.
Go you Kiwi Bastards!!!!!!!!!
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Nah it will be a draw from here on in!
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:22 pm
not rolling away, obstruction… what else are the kiwis alowed to do
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:24 pm
28-0 with 17min to go.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:25 pm
getting up with ball in tackle… are the kiwis untouchable!?
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Three converted tries will get NZ to my prediction. Now they just have to score them!
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:26 pm
ref is another roos!!
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Williams get one. Conversion is miss. Who is kicking so badly? If it is Carter then my FL score will be low.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:29 pm
As long as the other refs notice this and don’t allow it in the finals.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Carter made up for the misses with his try. Now they need 9.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
35-0 with 13 to go
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:33 pm
I see our Currie Cup SB scores are close once again. Picked the Cheetahs and the Bulls this weekend.
Sandshark 49.50 Joint 3rd
Spirits 49.00 5th
Jotrojer 48.50 6th
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:34 pm
My FL team not doing great…
FR CJ van der Linde SAF 0
FR Carl Hayman NZL 0
LK Alun Wyn Jones WAL 0
LK Jerome Thion FRA 0
LF Chris Masoe NZL 0
LF Jason White SCO 0
HV Daniel Carter NZL 0
HV James Hook WAL 0
CT Adam Ashley-Cooper AUS 0
CT Matt Giteau AUS 0
OB Simon Webster SCO 0
OB Chris Latham AUS
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Ashley-Cooper scored , Giteau scored twice and kicked well. Carter scored and kicked bad.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:38 pm
40 – 0 NZ
75min
My prediction is 41.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:42 pm
if only Carter had got that kick over then I would have had a half share in the closest prediction.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:44 pm
If they socre again and miss the conversion agion then I can get 0.5 for closest score
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:47 pm
only 2 games today… what a crock of sh…
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Hey I have mediazone… I can watch WP beat the cheaters
September 23rd, 2007 at 7:29 pm
#
Hey I have mediazone… I can watch WP beat the cheaters
Comment by JT – BOKKE!!! — September 23, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
hehehe enjoy JT
not something that have happened tOO often of late!
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:03 pm
not something that have happened tOO often of late!
Comment by 12bOOrBok — September 23, 2007 @ 7:29 pm |Edit This
Gonna happen more in the coming weeks.
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:38 pm
then get yourself mediazone as well, or a big cloth to wipe the egg of your face!
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:41 pm
fancy how kiwis will behave onto the field when they would meet us in the final. hehehehehehe
for them it’s still time to score plenty of tries and to confirm, as always, they are the “unsmiling giants”.
we shall wait and see.
GO BOKKE
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:54 pm
then get yourself mediazone as well, or a big cloth to wipe the egg of your face!
Comment by 12bOOrBok — September 23, 2007 @ 8:38 pm |Edit This
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:51 pm
where is everyone?
September 23rd, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Here is me Bokdylan me old matey