Scotland's familiar frailties brutally exposed in All Blacks schooling

Hopes of a first-ever win over New Zealand were trampled along with Scotland's mission statement, writes Tom English.

Fair play to the All Blacks. At least this time they didn't wait until the closing minutes to put Scotland away, they took them out of their misery way earlier than that. A small mercy, in a sense.

No dramas, no late moments of All Black genius required, no clutch try to swing it in the end and break Scottish hearts. Those late sucker-punches? They're the worst.

It's easier this way. You know where you are with shellackings. It's the near misses that are harder to take.

If you're going to lose to the All Blacks, maybe it's better to be routed than robbed, better to be outclassed than walking away with a sense of grievance or a feeling a win was left behind.

This was a systematic dismantling, all over in the 51st minute when Beauden Barrett, as much of a genius now at the age of 35 as he ever was, scored his second try of the day.

Source: BBC Sport