All Blacks 2010 Grand Slam tour taking shape

Reuters

STOPPING THE SCOTS: All Blacks prop Carl Hayman tries to stop Scotland's Fergus Thomson during a 2007 Rugby World Cup match in Edinburgh.

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Scotland have confirmed a test against New Zealand as the All Blacks look to set up another grand slam tour at the end of next year.

Having claimed grand slams in 2005 and 2008, the race is on again with a clash against the improving Scots the first leg to be set in ink.

Scotland have released their programme for next November.

They will play New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa in a tough trio of matches just months out from the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

The Scots have never beaten the All Blacks. On the last two grand slam tours they lost 32-6 to a second-string side in Edinburgh in November 2008 and 29-10 in 2005.

Scotland have just come off a reasonable home series as they prepare for the coming Six Nations championship.

Under former England coach Andy Robinson they beat Australia 9-8 and Fiji 23-10 before being edged 9-6 by Argentina.

The All Blacks are likely to need dispensation from the IRB to complete their grand slam plans with their proposed test against England set to be played outside the official window.

Tentative dates have been set for the other legs of the four match slam with the All Blacks set to play Ireland at the new Lansdowne Road stadium on November 11 and Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on November 28.

The All Blacks are also looking to play another Bledisloe Cup test en route to Europe, probably in Asia again.

- © Fairfax NZ News