KEY POINTS:
Best Alan Tait doesn't go into one of his All Black reveries when he's helping to prep Scotland before their World Cup clash with the favourites at Murrayfield on Monday morning.
Tait, dual rugby international, British Lion and a man who twice faced the All Blacks in cup
quarter-finals, is an unabashed fan of their style.
Yesterday, while he was talking about the need for a totally committed defence, a Scottish journalist suggested something along the lines of the effort put in to beat England in the Six Nations last year.
Tait briefly looked at the bloke as if he'd lost his marbles.
"I think New Zealand are a lot better than England," he said. "I can't see New Zealand hitting it up off No 9 and No 10 like England did for us that day.
"England didn't give us much variation to worry about."
Then Tait was off and away.
"The All Blacks will spin it wide, hit it up short, have short lineouts, have forwards in the backs. They've got loads of variations and that's what tests you as a defender."
And the hits kept coming ...
"Their attacking play, their running lines are outstanding. They have forwards who run like backs, they get quick ball ... the speed they do things at is outstanding. It's a massive game for those Scottish players who take the field."
Tait, renowned as a highly capable defender, has no problem with the increasing emphasis being placed on rugged, tight defensive lines. It's up to teams to find ways to defeat them.
"It's how we cope with the All Blacks' physicality in their defence and where we put the ball after we've got it. That's the difficult part when you're playing these teams."
And Tait predicts the only teams capable of beating the All Blacks during the cup are those who can hold a firm defensive line for the entire 80 minutes, "like Australia or South Africa".
But Tait won't sell Scotland short. He's no mind reader but he believes all you can do is make sure when the Scots run out they are in the best possible state of readiness, know what's required and can carry it out.
Scotland, despite coming close at times over the past 100 years, have never beaten the All Blacks. The odds are slim of it happening on Monday, but you won't find the Scots giving up.
"You've got to keep telling them to get out and give it their best shot. Beat the man you're up against. If you can do that, you might have a chance."
