Scotland 21-43 New Zealand: Ashman hat-trick not enough as All Blacks pull clear

Ewan Ashman’s first-half hat-trick was not enough for Scotland as New Zealand scored 19 unanswered points after the break to win 43-21 at Murrayfield.

The hooker’s three tries, all converted by Finn Russell, kept Scotland within three points at half-time in Saturday’s Nations Championship encounter.

But the hosts did not score again. Tries from Josh Moorby and Beauden Barrett within two minutes of each other opened a decisive gap, before Asafo Aumua completed New Zealand’s seven-try victory.

Barrett finished with two tries, while Wallace Sititi, Ethan de Groot and captain Codie Taylor also crossed for the visitors.

Scotland 21-43 New Zealand: Ashman keeps hosts in touch

New Zealand struck after four minutes through Sititi, but Scotland’s response was swift. Ashman crossed in the eighth minute and Russell’s conversion put the home side 7-5 ahead.

That proved to be Scotland’s only lead. De Groot scored in the 16th minute, with Damian McKenzie converting, before Taylor added another try four minutes later to make it 17-7.

A yellow card for New Zealand flanker Peter Lakai in the 24th minute was followed by Ashman’s second try. Russell again converted to reduce the deficit to three points.

Barrett restored the visitors’ advantage with his first try in the 31st minute, and McKenzie’s conversion took the score to 24-14.

Yet Scotland found another response before the interval. With Sititi sent to the sin-bin in the 33rd minute, Ashman completed his treble five minutes later. Russell maintained his perfect record from the tee to leave the match finely balanced at 24-21.

New Zealand take control after half-time

The first half had produced seven tries and repeated Scottish responses. The second brought three more tries, all for New Zealand.

Moorby extended the lead in the 49th minute before Barrett claimed his second in the 51st. McKenzie’s conversion made it 36-21, turning a narrow half-time advantage into a 15-point cushion.

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu was also shown a yellow card in the 51st minute, adding to the hosts’ difficulties during a crucial spell.

Aumua crossed in the 69th minute and McKenzie added the conversion to complete the scoring. Scotland’s final points remained Russell’s conversion just before half-time.

Scotland vs New Zealand scoring summary

Team	Tries	Conversions
Scotland	Ashman 3 (8, 26, 38)	Russell 3
New Zealand	Sititi (4), de Groot (16), Taylor (20), Barrett 2 (31, 51), Moorby (49), Aumua (69)	McKenzie 4

Second-half shutout proves decisive

New Zealand finished with 54% of possession and seven turnovers to Scotland’s three. Both teams had players sent to the sin-bin, with Lakai and Sititi receiving the visitors’ yellow cards and Tuipulotu Scotland’s. Neither side received a red card.

Ashman’s finishing had kept Scotland in contention throughout the opening half, but they could not sustain that scoring threat after the restart. New Zealand, by contrast, added three tries while keeping the hosts scoreless to turn a three-point contest into a 22-point win.

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