Wynne Gray: Murrayfield shows worryingly mediocre All Blacks

Victor Vito breaks away to score for the All Blacks. Photo /Getty Images

Like the All Black coaches, we wanted to see the difference between the All Blacks' top side and their understudies in a match with some pressure, unlike the frolic in Chicago.

We got it at Murrayfield and the result was not pretty. Scotland are a willing, fit side who look to be responding to the ideas of coach Vern Cotter but have some way to go to deliver many strike moves.

Like the All Black staff, we are more concerned about their production and what calibre of rugby they deliver, how 13 new faces respond to their chance to make an impression.

The evidence yesterday from those men in the starting XV was middling. Apart from tighthead prop Charlie Faumuina, lock Jeremy Thrush and No8 Victor Vito, there was a ragged look from the forwards and not much snap from the backline either.

Daniel Carter's first start in a year was patchy and the absence of quality ball and lack of flow filtered through the rest of the backs.

Too many players showed average thought and ability and a lack of rugby smarts. There was clutter in the All Black ranks, players in the way of each other, others dropping the ball, getting out of position, struggles in the lineouts.

There were hints of good early interplay between the forwards but that evaporated while passing in the backs was erratic.

These All Blacks talk about concentrating on their own work, delivering standards they feel will negate much of what any rival brings. They'll be talking into next week if they want to get into the nitty-gritty of yesterday's shortfall.

This was a chance for a number of understudies to get a tick from their coaches and reinforce why they were more than players on the fringe of an expanding group searching for World Cup places.

Ten minutes from time Scots halfback Greg Laidlaw joined Irishman Johnny Sexton's exclusive group of kickers who have trembled and cracked when he missed a handy penalty for the lead. It was a 109-year moment.

How they were still in the match at that stage on the back of pressure scrum ball and uncertain link play says a great deal about the All Black flaws.

Take their attempt to dish up pressure just before halftime when they led 11-10 and kicked for a lineout throw 10m from the Scots line. Liam Messam won the ball for the drive which was halted and the ball lost.

Untidy and muddled, notwords you would expect to apply to a rugby side which prides itself in its preparation and methods.