Underdog tradition sits well with Scottish hosts

EDINBURGH - Assistant coach Wayne Smith says despite predictions of his All Blacks steamrolling Scotland tomorrow, it's the hosts who have a history of being "wreckers of tradition and form".

It's been labelled the easiest of the All Blacks' four matches on tour and nothing in recent weeks has shaken that opinion, despite freezing weather which has hit Edinburgh threatening to even the contest up.

The All Blacks are super-confident, have 13 fresh pairs of legs from last weekend's torrid win over England, are playing better rugby than the hosts and can become just New Zealand's second Grand Slam side in 100 years.

Last weekend Scotland struggled home 18-11 over Samoa, and have to back up with just three changes, six days after a very physical encounter.

Just three of their side - halfback Chris Cusiter and loose forwards Simon Taylor and Jason White - were in New Zealand with the Lions.

Taylor was invalided out before playing a game and White arrived as a late replacement near the end of the tour.

Then there is tradition, with Scotland never having beaten the All Blacks in 100 years and 24 matches - many of those with stronger sides than they run out with tomorrow.

But Smith is playing it cautious.

"We expect them to be competitive.

"They've got a history of being wreckers of tradition and form. We'd imagine they'll come out fired up."

Smith can vouch for that, having nearly become part of the first All Blacks side to lose to Scotland in 1983 at Murrayfield.

Fielding six new caps, they outscored the hosts three tries to one but five penalties from Scotland fullback Peter Dods kept the hosts in the match, which finished 25-all.

It was, Smith said, "not one of our great performances".

There has been just one other draw, 0-0 back in 1964 on a frozen ground when Sir Wilson Whineray's side were denied a Grand Slam.

Last time the teams met was in 2001, a 37-6 win at Murrayfield. Captain Tana Umaga, Richie McCaw, Anton Oliver and Chris Jack are NZ's only survivors from that game.

Wing Chris Paterson, White and lock Scott Murray are the only Scots to return.

But their coach Frank Hadden said the black jersey would always cause a lift in performance.

"All Scottish sides have a tradition for being underdogs and it sits well with us," Hadden said.

"We never back away from that kind of challenge, and the All Blacks will be under more pressure than us this weekend."

Smith observed that Scotland liked to play a more unorthodox, wider style where the ball is moved from side to side at pace, meaning defensive patterns have to be spot on.

The big problem for Scotland will be the All Blacks' physicality, likely dominance at the breakdown through McCaw and new No 6 Angus Macdonald, a superior set piece and more brilliance out wide.

The All Blacks' scrum has been one of their strong points all tour and, despite greenhorn props John Afoa and Saimone Taumoepeau, would hope to get some early dominance.

From a World Cup point of view it is a big test for the two props, Macdonald, No 8 Sione Lauaki, pivot Nick Evans, and teenage debutant Isaia Toeava to prove they are worth keeping in the frame.

Scotland, meanwhile, insist they won't just be into damage limitation.

- NZPA