New Zealand beats Scotland 43-21 to remain unbeaten in Nations Championship at Murrayfield

New Zealand withstood two yellow cards in a frantic first half to edge Scotland 43-21 at Murrayfield and maintain their unbeaten run in the Nations Championship. The All Blacks scored four tries in the opening 40 minutes of the match, outscoring Scotland 24-21 despite the pressure of playing with fewer men at times.

Both teams turned down penalty kicks early on, opting to chase tries instead, which set a high tempo in the stands of Edinburgh. Scotland’s defence was tested heavily, as they made close to 100 tackles in the first half alone. The physical toll showed as the second half unfolded, with the All Blacks shutting out Scotland completely after the break.

New Zealand’s execution from set-pieces improved as the game went on, allowing them to dominate possession and territory in the second half. This control removed any tension from the match, as the All Blacks extended their lead with three further tries, finishing the game with seven tries in total.

Scotland’s hopes of a positive result were damaged by their inability to contain New Zealand’s forward pack and quick ball movement. Their defence wore down under the relentless pressure, and mistakes crept in during key moments. The hosts dropped to 2-2 in the northern hemisphere standings and will face Australia next in the Nations Championship.

The All Blacks remain undefeated at 4-0, matching South Africa’s record in the southern hemisphere pool. Their victory on Saturday confirms they will represent the southern hemisphere in the final on November 29.

This was the first time Scotland suffered a defeat against New Zealand in the Nations Championship after near misses in 2017, 2022, and 2025. The All Blacks’ ability to overcome two yellow cards and still lead at halftime showed their resilience and tactical discipline.

The match featured a high-scoring first half with seven tries combined, but the second half belonged entirely to New Zealand. Scotland failed to add any points after the break, unable to breach the All Blacks’ defence or maintain possession long enough to create scoring opportunities.

The All Blacks’ victory at Murrayfield confirms their status as favourites for the final and continues their run of strong performances in this tournament. Scotland’s challenge now is to regroup quickly ahead of their next Nations Championship clash against Australia.

According to Yahoo Sports.