All Blacks battle past Scotland (+pics)

The new-look All Blacks mixed some brilliant attack and resolute defence to get the Grand Slam under way with a patchy but encouraging performance that was more than enough to see off Scotland at Murrayfield today.

Four tries contributed to what was a comfortable 32-6 victory as the fresh faces and combinations managed to preserve New Zealand's 103 unbeaten record with reasonable comfort.

There were several concerns though. Fullback Isaia Toeava never reappeared after suffering what looked to be a serious shoulder injury just before halftime.

Andy Ellis' reintroduction to test rugby during the second half lasted just 20 minutes before he was forced off with another rib injury. Dan Carter came off the bench to finish the game at halfback.

And the All Blacks scrum had a tough night with new loosehead Jamie Macintiosh given a torrid introduction to the test scene by Euan Murray. Mackintosh lasted 55 minutes before Neemia Tialata was brought in to shore things up.

But amid this there will be plenty of pleasure in the New Zealand camp given the raw nature of this side.

They produced plenty of polish at times to trouble the Scots and also gutsed out many awkward moments as the home side produced their trademark passion, particularly up front.

They will also have left the ground content with the refereeing effort of controversial whistleman Wayne Barnes who produced a display full of authority as he policed the breakdowns hard.

So the newbies have set the standard and the more established players now have a tough act to follow when they confront Ireland in Dublin next weekend.

The backs made a slick start and looked dangerous any time they had the ball.

First five-eighth Stephen Donald will be buoyed by a far better display than he managed in Hong Kong.

Toeava starred while he was on. He backed up his solid effort last week with some scything runs and at one stage he produce two outstanding try-saving tackles in the same wave of attack from the Scots.

Centre Richard Kahui produced plenty of thrust to be named man of the match.

Openside Adam Thomson, questioned prematch by the Scots, came up with a lively display in leading the young loose forward trio.

Ali Williams looked as though he was out to make a point before he surely gets spelled in Dublin and his locking partner Anthony Boric was also into everything to be the pick of the tight forwards.

Scotland showed a fair bit of adventure at times but were thwarted by some desperate New Zealand defence and their own inadequacies when the try line was in sight.

To hold the Scots tryless was a good effort from the All Blacks given the number of opportunities the home side had from inside the New Zealand 22.

The hosts produced an impressive staging of the opening match of their test season.

The All Blacks were sent out on to the field in the cover of darkness for the prematch festivities on a cold but clear night.

The Scots received a frenzied welcomed from a crowd of 51,511 and then a minute's silence in honour of Remembrance Day was broken by an air force helicopter hovering over the stadium.

The haka got a rapturous reception and finished with rival locks Williams and Nathan Hines in a face-off close to halfway. The All Blacks came in behind Williams who eventually won the stare-down.

Predictably the Scots ripped into the opening phase with fullback Chris Paterson breaking up the middle on a good run that took him to the shadow of the posts where he was eventually hauled down by Adam Thomson. The Scots got a penalty that Paterson converted.

The All Blacks immediately got a penalty at the other end when midfield back Nick de Luca was sin-binned for kicking the ball away from an offside position at the tackle as Isaia Toeava and skipper Keven Mealamu counter-attacked. Donald goaled from wide out.

Donald's boot was in command again soon after with a clever wipers kick that found right wing Anthony Tuitavake who crossed in the corner for his first test try.

The All Blacks continued to dominate possession and field position and kept edging clear with Donald adding a further penalty to make the lead 13-3 at the end of the first quarter.

Paterson kept the Scots in touch with his second penalty soon after.

The New Zealand backs continued to look hot and on the back of an Anthony Boric turnover Richard Kahui put a clever chip kick through. The All Blacks backs swamped the Scot's defence and Weepu was the one to win the race for the touchdown.

Barnes kept making his point when he sin-binned Boric for a breakdown infringement close to the New Zealand line as Scotland pushed hard.

The All Blacks held out to lead 18-6 at the break and started strongly again when a Cory Jane kick bounced awkwardly for the home side's defence. Kahui gathered it in and sprinted to the posts.

The bench started to be emptied with regular skipper Richie McCaw replacing Thomson and hooker Corey Flynn getting on for his first test since 2004 to take over the middle of the front row from Mealamu.

Ross Filipo came on for Williams and Andy Ellis got a decent run at the expense of Weepu who had again looked strong.

The changes took their toll on the cohesion of the side and they fell into a flat spell in the middle of the second half.

Messam showed his ranging skills to set up a gift opportunity for Jane who somehow managed to drop the pass right on the line.

The most pleasing aspect during another period of difficulty was the way the All Blacks maintained their defensive pressure.

And they had the final say when Boric got a deserved try at the end, crashing up the middle to score between the posts.

So the Slam is under way and there might just be enough depth here now to carry off a repeat of the 2005 heroics.

Scotland 6: Chris Paterson 2 pen.

New Zealand 32: Anthony Tuitavake, Piri Weepu, Richard Kahui, Anthony Boric tries; Stephen Donald 3 con, 2 pen.

HT: 6-18

Crowd: 55,511

- © Fairfax NZ News