Having welcomed Vern Cotter's policy of encouraging a distinctively Scottish style of play, Greig Laidlaw suggested yesterday that the national coach's New Zealand origins could be just as significant in the build-up to Scotland's match with the All Blacks at BT Murrayfield on Saturday.
Cotter never got close to an All Blacks cap as a player and nor was he involved in a coaching capacity at national level before he moved to pursue his career in France, but Laidlaw made it clear that the former Clermont Auvergne coach's Antipodean roots would still be a valuable asset to the squad as they prepare to face the world champions.
"Vern is the head coach and he gives the players confidence," explained Laidlaw, who has been confirmed as Scotland captain for this weekend's game. "He is really passionate about Scotland getting back to their roots a little bit and try to re-identify the Scottish way of playing the game. It's about grit and determination first and foremost and getting stuck in. If you do that and set your stall out you give yourself a good platform to work off.
"Vern has a strong Kiwi background, so it's quite good for us. He knows what they are all about, he knows the cultures and the way that they like to play the game. In terms of that it's been good for us, especially me, to speak to Vern and understand what makes them tick.
"He knows the game inside out. He knows the psyche of the All Blacks more than we do as Scotsmen, so he's been good to have in the camp. But there are no secrets about the way they play. It's there for everyone to see that they are a world-class team. We just need to get out there, chuck everything we've got at them, play with pride and passion, and see where it gets us."
Laidlaw made his Scotland debut against the All Blacks at Murrayfield in 2010, when he came off the bench to replace Mike Blair late in the first half. The New Zealanders were already well ahead by the time of his arrival - they would go on to win 49-3 - so the scrum-half stressed the importance of not allowing them to build up a commanding lead early in the game, as they have so often done in the past.
"That seems to be the pattern for many of their games," he said. "We need to try and stay in the game for as long as we can. We need to stay in it for 20 minutes, 40 minutes, 60 minutes and feel our way through.
"We need to play with ball in hand as much as we can. If we have the ball it is easier to play the game rather than us trying to chase it down and defend. You get a lot more tired defending, especially the way they play as they have good width and make it hard for you."
Although they conceded a try after 90 seconds, Scotland regained the initiative quickly against Argetina, and built up a 34-10 lead over the course of the first hour. However, their grip slipped later in the game and they allowed the Pumas to narrow the gap to just 10 points at the finish. Laidlaw conceded that a more focused, 80-minute performance will be required in the second of their autumn Tests, and that discipline will have to be better in the closing stages of the game against the All Blacks than it was against the South Americans.
"I think we were fit enough," said Laidlaw in response to a suggestion the Scots had been tiring towards the end of Saturday's match. "There were a couple of yellow cards. That is the first place to look when you are down to 14 men. Argentina have a good scrum and got the penalty try. We need to be very disciplined. To get close we need to keep 15 men on the field."
Famously, Scotland have never beaten New Zealand, and the margins of defeat have not been narrowing. In their eight meetings since the turn of the millennium, only once - in 2005 - have the Scots finished within 20 points of the All Blacks. In their last two games, the Scots have conceded 13 tries and scored just three. In light of which, Laidlaw reiterated his belief that they cannot allow New Zealand to settle into their familiar, dominant groove. "It is a balance of stopping them and playing a bit of rugby ourselves," he said. "Clearly, if we have leaked 13 tries in two games then we have to try to drastically reduce that number if we are going to come anywhere near them.
"They are a great attacking side and have been for a number of years now. They have set standards and are the best team in the world for a reason. We need to go out there and try and impose some of our game on them. We need to keep the ball when we can, run the ball at them and try and make them defend for large periods of the game."
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