Wynne Gray: Valiant Scots factor in rancorous All Blacks era

A Scotland fan during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Scotland inflicted their greatest damage on the All Blacks at Eden Park in 1990.

The tourists were beaten 21-18 yet scored two tries to one, dominated much of the play and should have won that test to supplant two draws which have tormented Scotland's 109-year search for victory against the All Blacks.

Stalemates in 1964 and 1983 created alarm but nothing like the damage the Scots inflicted when they picked at one of the great All Black eras.

They were rolling along in the midst of an unbeaten streak of 50 games including 23 tests. The captaincy had transferred from Andy Dalton and David Kirk to Wayne Shelford as the successful run continued.

Scotland were sawn off 31-16 at Dunedin but found another gear for the Eden Park rematch. A couple of mistakes, inaccurate goal-kicking, unusual rulings from referee Derek Bevan and the All Blacks' grit conspired to blur Scotland's shot at history.

It was a desolate loss for coach Ian McGeechan and senior men like captain David Sole, the Hastings and Milne brothers, John Jeffrey, Finlay Calder and Gary Armstrong.

Weeks later the fallout was escalating in New Zealand.

Shelford was axed from the side as conflicting versions about his sacking and the reasons behind that demotion bubbled then burst into geyser-like outbreaks throughout the country.

His dismissal drew enduring reactions which continued through to the late coaching changes orchestrated by the NZRU and the selection of the 1991 World Cup squad. The rancour escalated when that squad fell to the Wallabies with more tales of player factions, coaching rifts and disharmony.

Only a few episodes since have matched that for public ferocity. There was the disgraceful public reaction and treatment of John Hart when he arrived home after the 1999 World Cup and the commotion after Graham Henry's re-appointment.

Those who empathise with all things Scottish will claim they played a part in the shambles following those 1999 and 2007 tournaments.

After sauntering through pool play in '99 the All Blacks packed up their kit and partners for a three-day spell on the French Riviera. The players needed some space so the New Zealand media were not welcome, even though the place was teeming with French and freelance photographers hunting Jonah Lomu and his teammates.

The All Blacks returned to Edinburgh for their quarterfinal against Scotland where Lomu's try-scoring power gave them a 30-18 victory. It was hard work and the Scots will assert they delivered the template for France's shock semifinal victory a week later.

In '07, the Scots lost 40-0 as the All Blacks indulged mix and match selections for their pool games with Italy, Portugal and Romania.

The Scots were in a group of buffet opponents which left the All Blacks vulnerable and less than sharp as they drifted around for about six weeks waiting for their inevitable march to the playoffs.

When that came they could not fire their skills or their inability to control the game among Wayne Barnes' unusual game management.