KEY POINTS:
EDINBURGH - Hat-trick hero Allister Hogg is buoyed by some recent Scottish rugby performances against New Zealand as his team brace for a massive World Cup challenge here on Monday morning (NZT).
Flanker Hogg, who scored three tries in his team's 42-0 whitewash of Romania on Wednesday, said Scotland must enter the same Murrayfield arena showing the world No 1-ranked New Zealand side respect but not be overawed.
He said there was good reason to regard the All Blacks as fallible even though they had swept nearly all before since the last World Cup in 2003.
The last meeting between the countries, here in 2005, was tighter than the All Blacks' 29-10 winning margin suggested.
The second half was shared 7-7 but the All Blacks had done enough in the first spell to secure success while also claiming the Grand Slam and farewelling captain Tana Umaga in his final test.
"And we ought to have had a pushover try awarded, while (reserve winger) Simon Webster went over near the end to show what we can do in what was probably the best home nations performance against them on that tour," Hogg said.
"Also, as a member of the Scottish Youth team a few years ago, we led their Colts at halftime before being overhauled in the last 10 minutes and that is something which I can draw on. "
A good start on Monday was crucial, as shown by Italy's early capitulation in New Zealand's 76-14 pool opening win at Marseille two weeks ago.
"I think losing early scores against them caused Italian heads to go down so Scotland aim to be the first team to really test these All Blacks," said Hogg, who is no certainty to start as coach Frank Hadden may well elect to rest a number of his leading players.
Former flanker John Jeffrey was the last Scottish forward to record a hat-trick, coincidentally against Romania in a World Cup - at Dunedin during the inaugural tournament of 1987.
Jeffrey believes the improved Scottish team can test the All Blacks.
"Romania really was an ideal victory; it was morale boosting, particularly through the clean sheet, yet with sufficient means of keeping feet on the ground," he said.
"As for the remainder of the tournament, what is important for Scotland is that they qualify for the knockout stages and if that means mixing and matching the lineup to face New Zealand, I have no problem."
- NZPA
