Rugby: All Blacks too powerful for hapless Scotland

The Mighty New Zealand All Blacks thrashed Scotland with a dazzling display of attacking rugby in the first Test match in Dunedin. The Scots, who have never beaten their southern hemisphere rivals in almost 100 years of Test rugby, found their midfield markers and fringe defenders could not cope with the overpowering elusive running of New Zealand.

Wing wizard Jonah Lomu ran in three tries, while the visitors could only manage two face-saving tries in the closing stages from lock Richard Metcalfe and flanker Gordon Simpson. Scotland coach Ian McGeechan cited weak tackling and an inability to take chances as the main reasons behind their humiliation at Carisbrook, as New Zealand ran riot with 11 tries.

"We have to look very hard at ourselves because we are very disappointed with a lot of our defensive work," he said. "We got things together a bit in the last 20 minutes and for the first 30 minutes. But ultimately we gave away too many scores without making New Zealand really work hard for them."

Meanwhile, World champions Australia survived a nervous final quarter to beat a tenacious Argentina 32-25 in their second and final rugby union test this afternoon. In a dramatic turn around from a week earlier when the Wallabies thrashed the South Americans 53-6, the Argentine pack took the game to their hosts battering away at the tryline for most of the final 20 minutes.

"It was a really tough night at the office for us," Australia coach Rod Macqueen said. "We really had to defend well out there. I don't want to take anything away from the Argentines, they really played well and put it to us." Australia outscored the Pumas by three tries to two for their ninth win in a row. The visitors came to within four points of the Wallabies at the 70-minute mark when hooker Federico Mendez scored his team's second try, but a late penalty by winger Stirling Mortlock gave the Wallabies a vital seven-point lead.

Mortlock was sacked from the goalkicking duties when he missed each of his five attempts at goal on debut in last weekend's win in Brisbane but made amends on Saturday with a try, five penalties and a conversion to finish with 22 points. Fullback Chris Latham also scored a try after running in four a week ago while Joe Roff added another touchdown to his two from the Brisbane test. Ignacio Corletto scored the Pumas first try and flyhalf Felipe Contepomi booted five penalties on a bitterly cold night in Australia's national capital.