All Blacks overcome emotional week with dominant victory over Scotland at Murrayfield

In a display of grit and emotional fortitude, the All Blacks secured a 43-21 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday 7 November 2026. The seven-try bonus-point win keeps Dave Rennie’s side level on Nations Championship competition points with South Africa, following what was described as one of the team's most challenging weeks in Edinburgh. Loose forward Wallace Sititi opened the scoring for New Zealand with an early try from a lineout move. Despite a competitive first half that saw Scotland trailing by only three points at the break, the All Blacks took control in the second period, preventing the home side from scoring a single point after the interval. The second-half surge was led by Beauden Barrett, who celebrated his 50th test try during the match, alongside tries from Josh Moorby and replacement hooker Asafo Aumua. The performance was dedicated to the team's security chief, Logan Cadwallader, a former member of the New Zealand SAS who passed away suddenly earlier in the week. Speaking to RNZ after the match, Beauden Barrett reflected on the emotional toll the loss took on the squad, stating that it took days for the players to be able to focus on rugby. He described the team's connection as unbreakable once they came together on the field. Head coach Dave Rennie also acknowledged the massive emotional weight carried by the players, expressing pride in their ability to manage the pressure and deliver a victory. The win was bolstered by a clinical second-half defensive effort and set-piece dominance, particularly in the scrum. Other try scorers for the visitors included Ethan de Groot and Codie Taylor, while Quinn Tupaea and Jordie Barrett were credited for winning crucial breakdown penalties that snuffed out Scotland’s late attacking ambitions.