New Zealand ran in seven tries past Scotland to beat their hosts 49-3 in a completely one-sided game at Murrayfield on Saturday.
It was a demoralising defeat for the Scots, who could only look on helplessly as the All Blacks condemned their hosts to a record home defeat.
The visitors' back division proved altogether too hot to handle as Hosea Gear and Mils Muliaina each claimed a brace during the visitors' success, which saw the Kiwis back on top after rather disappointing performances in the last two weeks.
The match was over as a contest as early as the 17th minute following four early tries to New Zealand who took control from kick-off and never looked back.
If anything, New Zealand's dominance of territory and possession increased in the second half and they added three further tries -- through Muliaina, Conrad Smith and Andy Ellis -- to cap a dazzling display.
Dan Parks slotted a third-minute penalty from long-range to give Scotland the opening points. But the Murrayfield faithful's hopes of witnessing their country's first win over the All Blacks in 105 years of trying were soon dashed as the tourists raced into a 25-point lead by half-time.
Gear opened the floodgates in the ninth minute, crossing under the posts after Sonny Bill Williams had straightened the angle of attack and found the winger out of the back of his hand. Dan Carter converted and was soon crossing the whitewash himself as turnover ball was ruthlessly exploited close to the half-way line.
With Scotland's defence out of position, full-back Muliaina and wing Isaia Toeava combined down the left flank to give Carter a free run to the line.
The fly-half then turned provider, his inside pass releasing Muliaina and Gear took advantage of a mismatch with Scotland hooker Ross Ford to add his second in the 27th minute. Carter slotted the extra two points to put his side 28-3 up and, at that stage, they had scored a point-per-minute.
Scotland suffered a further blow just before the interval when skipper Mike Blair was forced off by injury and Greig Laidlaw came on for his first cap.
New Zealand continued to dominate after the break and it was no surprise when another Williams offload allowed Muliaina to squeeze over in the right corner in the 48th minute for his second try -- and his team's fifth. Carter's conversion took his personal tally to 15 points but was also his final act as Stephen Donald was brought on for the final half-hour.
It took until the 66th minute for New Zealand to create their sixth try, Smith applied the final touches after Scotland's overworked defence was outnumbered on the left.
Replacement scrum-half Ellis added a seventh late on before the match finished amid worrying scenes as Scotland centre Max Evans, whose brother Thom was forced to retire after breaking his neck in last year's Six Nations encounter with Wales, was stretchered off with his neck in a brace.
Graham Henry's side are now halfway through their November tour as they seek a third Grand Slam in five years, following the successes in 2005 and 2008, and meet Ireland in Dublin next weekend.
Man of the match: Hard one after such an accomplished team effort. But it was the distribution of rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams in midfield that particularly caught the eye. Williams, who made his Test debut in the 15-man code in last weekend's win over England at Twickenham, consistently opened holes in Scotland's defence with the timing and vision of his offloads.
Moment of the match: Take your pick out of the seven tries scored ... all had their own bit of All Blacks' class to it.
Villain of the match: Nothing to report.
The scorers:
For Scotland:
Pens: Parks
For New Zealand:
Tries: Gear 2, Carter, Muliaina 2, Smith, Ellis
Cons: Carter 5, Donald 2
Scotland: 15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Rory Lamont, 13 Max Evans , 12 Graeme Morrison , 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Mike Blair (c), 8 Richie Vernon , 7 John Barclay , 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray , 3 Euan Murray , 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen .
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Nathan Hines , 19 Ross Rennie, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Ruaridh Jackson, 22 Nikki Walker.
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Isaia Toeava, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu/Hikawera Elliot, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Daniel Braid, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Ma'a Nonu.
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
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