Rugby: Scotland arrive in New Zealand
Saturday, 3 June 2000 16:20Scotland arrived in New Zealand at the start of their month-long tour with a clear warning from coach Ian McGeechan to ignore the All Blacks' World Cup woes.
The veteran of nine previous tours of the world's most passionate rugby nation as both player and coach is unimpressed by suggestions that last autumn's failures are no longer the feared opponents of old.
Scotland have never beaten the All Blacks in 21 previous attempts, their best effort being a 25-25 draw in 1983, although they did run them close in the World Cup quarter-final at Murrayfield last October.
New Zealand's spectacular fall from grace in the epic semi-final against France that followed led to a period of national mourning but the recruitment of a new coach, a new captain and a clutch of new players has been broadly welcomed.
