Quilter Nations Series: Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu 'utterly disappointed' after All Blacks snatch late victory at Murrayfield
Published 08/11/2025 at 19:50 GMT
The All Blacks prevailed over Scotland in a thrilling 25-17 victory at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in their Quilter Nations Series clash, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu was "utterly disappointed" after the final whistle as the visitors secured victory in the game's closing stages, thanks to an incredible try from Damian McKenzie and his late penalty.
Highlights: Scots miss out on history as McKenzie drags All Blacks over the line
Video credit: TNT Sports
A dejected Sione Tuipulotu was "utterly disappointed" after Scotland narrowly missed out on capturing a maiden victory over New Zealand in the Quilter Nations Series.
After going into half-time behind by 17 points and failing to register a single point, Scotland scored 17 unanswered points of their own to tie the game.
Finding their feet in a relentless and free-flowing affair, Gregor Townsend's side had the ascendancy as the All Blacks coughed up two yellow cards in quick succession, only for a late Damien McKenzie try to deny the Scots.
"I'm just so disappointed for the boys and all the Scottish fans that came out to watch us today," Tuipulotu said despondently.
"We wanted to put on a performance we could be proud of, but we really wanted to win for everyone in the stadium. We didn't get that today, that's a tough pill to swallow for me and the group.
"We've got to stick together, we've still got two more games this autumn but, right now it's tough to take."
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It was a 33rd attempt at beating the All Blacks, and they had their chances.
The visitors played a cumulative 30 minutes with 14 men after receiving three yellow cards across the game.
Scotland were brave and resilient but New Zealand, as they have always had the ability to do, conjured up points in the game's most-fragile moments.
"We had them under pressure the way we were moving the ball and attacking them, forcing errors and penalties and yellow cards," Tuipulotu explained.
"We'll have to look at the tape, but it feels to me when we were at 17-all the game was there to be won. But we didn't get it done today."
In the past, there would be dejection. But the captain knows that Scotland have forged a side capable of standing up to the likes of New Zealand and South Africa, and second place is leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
Tuipulotu said: "I think we're a really good team now, we've gelled really well in the past couple years and it's not enough for us to say 'we're almost there,' I think we're better than that now.
"I'm just utterly disappointed for our fans, especially everyone in the stadium who travelled. I'm disappointed for us all."
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Watch 'absolutely world-class' 50:22 from McKenzie to pile pressure on Scotland
Video credit: TNT Sports
'Rugby from the gods' to crush Scottish hearts
New Zealand are lethal when it matters. And when it mattered, McKenzie became the deadliest player on the pitch.
The visitors had barely had a sniff at Scotland's try-line in the second half until the 30-year-old's excellent 50:22 put the All Blacks deep into Scottish territory.
Coming off the bench and slotting in nicely as a secondary playmaker, McKenzie hovered outside of Beauden Barrett and in the 69th minute, the fly-half spun the ball to the utility back and the ball soared from his boot into Scotland's 22.
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'Rugby from the gods' - Insane McKenzie finish breaks Scotland hearts in classic
Video credit: TNT Sports
It was from that platform that the All Blacks crushed Scottish hearts inside Scottish Gas Murrayfield. A few minutes later and after a couple of lineouts, McKenzie landed a brilliant finish in the corner.
Then with a minute left on the clock, he slotted a penalty to put his side more than a score ahead.
It was a devastating end to the afternoon for Scotland, who fought so hard and had the beating of New Zealand for a large part of the second half.
But the All Blacks' collective brilliance is often expressed through an individual. Often it comes from a piece of skill from Barrett. Perhaps a rampaging run from Ardie Savea or a Will Jordan manoeuvre.
Today it was McKenzie, and his late-game salvo silenced a Murrayfield crowd that had dared to dream.
Watch and stream every game of the Quilter Nations Series live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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