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EDINBURGH - Scotland were supposed to provide the most challenging pool assignment but the All Blacks were often their own worst enemies as they played in fits and starts for 40-0 rugby World Cup whitewash here today.
The good news out of a mismatch at Murrayfield was that New Zealand are guaranteed to top pool C with a game to play and that winger Doug Howlett sprinted past Christian Cullen into the All Blacks test record books.
Not so pleasing for coach Graham Henry was a leg injury that sidelined fullback Leon MacDonald early in the test and an overall performance that again mixed some dominant patches with unforced errors.
Henry had demanded less of the latter following the opening romps against Italy and Portugal but the limited hosts did enough to knock the All Blacks off their stride.
They ran in three tries and 20 points in each half against opponents fielding their second string side, several of them impressive efforts but it could have been considerably more if they were more clinical on attack.
Two of the tries went to Howlett, the first taking him to 47 in tests, the most by any All Black.
From the same movement MacDonald, playing his 50th test, suffered an injury to his left leg and limped off soon afterwards to ice both his thigh and calf. His diagnosis was unclear.
Playing at a pace which most of the Scots were clearly unused to, the All Blacks will be frustrated not have made more of fine conditions in front of a crowd of 64,500.
There was the odd lineout slip-up while the breakdown was often messy, not helped by their new grey second strip bearing an uncanny resemblance to the stylised Scottish jersey.
The All Blacks had scrum mastery but couldn't push it home as referee Marius Jonker awarded penalties and free kicks to both teams in response to numerous collapses.
Handling errors that have bugged the All Blacks all year made an unwelcome return.
All of the tight five had the measure of their opposites while captain Richie McCaw led the way with ample ball carries in the absence of rested flanker Jerry Collins.
Second five-eighth Luke McAlister had his most potent outing for some time and reserve loose forward Sione Lauaki made a genuine late impact with ball in hand, creating momentum for three tries over the final 20 minutes.
First five-eighth Daniel Carter landed just four from eight shots at goal but a late try boosted his points tally to 15.
The result extends New Zealand's unbeaten record against Scotland to 26, the best in international rugby.
The All Blacks outlined their intentions before kickoff by performing their valued Kapa O Pango haka for the first time at this tournament.
After three minutes they nearly crossed but winger Sitiveni Sivivatu spilled a Carter cross-kick.
However, a try was the outcome just two minutes later when McCaw accepted an inside pass from No 8 Rodney So'oialo off the back of a rock solid 5m scrum to stroll over untouched.
First five-eighth Chris Paterson missed an easy dropped goal attempt in a rare early foray for the Scots.
The All Blacks made them pay when Howlett dashed 20m for his record in the 15th minute, diving over in the right-hand corner as he has done so often in a prolific career.
Scotland winger Nikki Walker missed Scotland's best opportunity to score when he failed to cleanly pick up a bobbling ball after the All Blacks failed to control a bomb.
Carter landed a penalty after 25min before his team endured a torrid 5min of defence, largely spent holding out Scottish runners around the ruck.
They eventually broke free and almost scored again through the cross kick to Sivivatu but his in-pass was ruled forward.
In a messy afternoon for the winger, he was also deemed to have thrown a forward pass to prop Tony Woodcock when the prop busted over midway through the second half.
The last scoring of the first spell was a try to halfback Byron Kelleher on the back of powerful surge from Chris Masoe, who was lively on the unfamiliar blindside flank but again guilty of handling mistakes.
A second Carter penalty was all the All Blacks had to show through the third quarter as much of the structure went out of the game but it burst into life when lock Ali Williams displayed all his athleticism to beat two defenders and reach out in the right corner.
Three minutes later Carter, who didn't have his happiest outing either in general play or with the boot, made amends when he scooped a spilled Scottish pass and glided 50m to score.
Howlett capped his day with angled 40m run to put daylight between himself and Cullen.
Scotland were resting nearly all of their to p players ahead of a crucial encounter with Italy in St Etienne on Saturday which will determine the second pool quarterfinalists.
That day New Zealand see out their schedule against Romania at Toulouse.
New Zealand 40 (Doug Howlett 2, Richie McCaw, Byron Kelleher, Ali Williams, Daniel Carter tries; Carter 2 pen, 2 con) Scotland 0. Halftime: 20-0.
- NZPA
