Angus stakes his claim

Angus Macdonald caught in a tackle during this morning's victory over Scotland. Ross Land / Getty Images

Samson might have lost his strength when his hair was cut off but it didn't seem to affect Angus Macdonald in his run-on debut for the All Blacks this morning.

The previously mop-topped Macdonald sported a shaven head courtesy of team-mates Ali Williams and Jimmy Cowan, who forked out the 15 for a trip to the barbers, and put in a good performance against the Scots.

He had little impact early, except for conceding the penalty that allowed the home side to take a fifth-minute 3-0 lead, but came more into the game as it wore on.

The 24-year-old is a different sort of player to first-choice blindside Jerry Collins - few can replicate the devastating defence and bullocking runs of the bleached one - but Macdonald is effective in his own way, mainly with his support play.

He was crucially involved twice in Sione Lauaki's 33rd-minute try that went the length of the field, linking up well with Nick Evans who made the initial burst, before handing it off later in the sweeping movement.

And he was often close on the shoulder of the imperious Richie McCaw in the race to the breakdown in the opening stanza, also winning a simple three-pointer in front of the Scottish posts as he foraged for ball.

He showed his versatility when he moved to the openside after McCaw's hip injury early in the second half and acquitted himself well. He's not unfamiliar with the role, having played in all three loose-forward positions during Auckland's NPC-winning campaign this year.

A proficient lineout option, Macdonald was largely unemployed until late in the first half as hooker Anton Oliver and later Andrew Hore preferred to throw to starting locks Chris Jack and James Ryan.

His father might have a few things to say about the haircut when Macdonald returns to the family farm at Waipoua Forest but he returns with something his father Hamish narrowly missed out on in 1972-73 - a Grand Slam.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY