Perfect Insanity/Stricken: Scotland Vs All Blacks & 2017 end of year rugby internationals week 5 review

Well, the All Blacks held on to win against the brave Scotland team (Who were on the verge of making history until a forward pass by man of the match Stuart Hogg ended their hopes of claiming their 1st victory against us) by 5 points over in Murrayfield in Edinburgh with the match commentary being provided:

Hello and welcome to live updates of Scotland hosting the All Blacks at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland.

It is the second Test match of the All Blacks northern tour after beating France 38-18 last weekend.

We bring you live streaming written commentary, and all the action.
Commentary will start from around 5:45 am (NZT). In the meantime check out the video above as All Blacks captain Kieran Read talks about what it means to play at Murrayfield Stadium.
Lineups

Scotland

1. Darryl Marfo, 2. Stuart McInally, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Ben Toolis,  5. Jonny Gray, 6. John Barclay (c), 7. Hamish Watson, 8. Cornell du Preez, 9. Ali Price, 10. Finn Russell, 11. Lee Jones, 12. Alex Dunbar, 13. Huw Jones, 14. Tommy Seymour, 15. Stuart Hogg

Reserves

16. George Turner, 17.  Jamie Bhatti, 18. Simon Berghan, 19. Grant Gilchrist, 20. Luke Hamilton, 21. Henry Pyrgos, 22. Pete Horne, 23. Byron McGuigan

All Blacks

Kane Hames, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Vaea Fifita, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Kieran Read, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Sonny Bill Williams,13. Ryan Crotty, 14. Waisake Naholo, 15. Damian McKenzie

Reserves

16. Nathan Harris, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19. Liam Squire, 20. Matt Todd, 21. TJ Perenara, 22. Lima Sopoaga, 23. Anton Lienert-Brown

Match facts and stats

Referee: Matthew Carley (ENG)

Sideline officials: Romain Poite (FRA) and Ian Davies (WAL)

Review officials: Graham Hughes (ENG)

Past meetings

Head to head: Played 30, Scotland 0, All Blacks 28, Drawn 0

Last time played: All Blacks 24 def Scotland 16, November, 15 2014

5:45 am: Scotland will be wearing their white jersey for this match which means the All Blacks will be in... well, all black.

5:51 am: It is a beautiful, clear afternoon in Edinburgh. Only 4:50 pm and it is dark. Great condition for counter-attacking rugby - something both teams are really good at.

5:52 am: I also better mention that it is a cool five degrees at the ground.

5:56 am: Both teams are finishing their final warm-ups and will head to the locker rooms very shortly.

5:58 am: Last time the All Blacks and Scotland squared off, the All Blacks scraped past with a 24-16 win.

6:00 am: England have just beaten Australia 30-6 in Twickenham. They scored three tries in the last 10 minutes to get the win.

6:01 am: The lights have gone out at the stadium and all you can see is a sea of blue thundersticks.

6:03 am: The teams are back out in the sheds and will be heading out shortly. The atmosphere is incredible. Can't wait to hear Flower of Scotland as it always sounds amazing.

6:05 am: Not long to go now!

6:08 am: Both teams are out on the field to a massive roar by the crowd.

6:09 am: Time for the national anthems. God Defend New Zealand is first.

6:11 am: Anthems are done. As always they sound amazing in Edinburgh. Haka time!

6:13 am: The All Blacks go with Ka Mate! and the Scotland crowd is singing so loud you can't even hear it! Magical scenes at Murrayfield.

6:16 am: Former Scotland international Doddie Weir brings the match ball out. He is well loved by the Scots and sadly was diagnosed with motor neurone disease this year.

KICKOFF: We are underway at Murrayfield. The All Blacks get the match started.

1min: Scotland gets an early penalty as Waisake Naholo obstructed and they kick to touch. Attacking lineout 22 out.

2min: Vaea Fifita comes through the middle of the maul and wins the turnover. Great play by the blindside flanker. All Black scrum.

3min: Aaron Smith clears the ball away. A great clearance kicks off a strong carry by Sonny Bill Williams. Scotland win the lineout and Stuart Hogg breaks the line but Cornell du Preez drops the pass.

5min: Stuart Hogg causing problems early on. Scotland just outside the 22.

6min: The home side has a penalty advantage and the referee blows his whistle. The All Blacks have had little ball and the Scotland chant starts around the stadium.

7min, PENALTY GOAL SCOTLAND: The home side is the first to score as Finn Russell slots the penalty goal. They lead early in this clash.

8min: The All Blacks have the ball on the halfway line and are taking their time as the Scotland defence holds strong.

9min: Finn Russell goes for an intercept and nearly get his hands to the ball but it goes forward. He is one of the best at intercepts.

10min: Stuart Hogg puts in a great kick and it goes into touch 5 out from their line.

11min: Scotland just outside the 22, but a loose pass forces them back and Ali Price has to clear the ball away but it drifts into touch on the full.

12min: All Blacks not rolling away and Scotland get the ball back and they will go for goal again.

13min: 45 out and it misses just to the right. A Missed opportunity with that one.

14min: Stuart Hogg with another deadly run making good ground. He is tackled and Sam Cane gets over the top or the ball and they win the turnover.

15min: This will be the All Blacks first real attacking chance and the ball has been turned over. But the ball pops out and the All Blacks have a scrum 25 out from the line.

16min: Brilliant start to the game I must admit. Both sides playing well but Scotland's defence will be tested here.

18min: The Scotland defence rushes up and they win the turnover Big play by John Barclay. The All Blacks honestly look stunned so far.

19min: Another penalty to Scotland just outside the 22. Will they kick for touch or go for goal?

They kick for touch. Five metres out.

20min: Scotland go for it and have a overlap. But the ball goes to ground, and the All Blacks survive again.

21min: All Blacks attack down the left wing and Aaron Smith throws the ball back infield but it is intercepted by Jonny Gray.

22min: Ali Price kicks the ball into touch and they will have a throw in 10 out from their line. cotland will be wanting to steal the lineout here.

23min: A mistake by Tommy Seymour and the All Blacks have an attacking lineout and now the All Blacks have a penalty advantage also.

24min: The All Blacks throw a forward pass but they had a penalty advantage. They have a chance to go for goal but they opt to go for touch. Five out.

26min: Scotland's defence is just holding on here. The All Blacks are inches from the line and they go wide, but Beauden Barrett throws a forward pass.

27min: The crowd loves it as another Scotland chant starts around the stadium.

Luke Hamilton comes on for Hamish Watson who will go for a HIA.

28min: Scotland get a free kick and the boot the ball downfield but but it doesn't go into touch.

Waisake Naholo could be in serious trouble here for taking Stuart Hogg out in the air. Time is off.

Waisake Naholo is lucky and stays on the field. The crowd are not happy with that at all. Naholo is very lucky.

29min: Scotland is now five out from the line as the Scotland chant starts again, but they are heading backwards now.

30min: The All Blacks defence is holding strong and is like a brick wall. Hogg attacks the line and they are five out again.

Another missed opportunity as Zander Fagerson knocks the ball on after 19 phases on attack. The All Blacks look puffed. The need to really score as they keep blowing chances inside the All Blacks 22.

31min: The All Blacks win a penalty at the scrum.

33min: Scotland carries the ball back by accident it looks like. All Blacks scrum five out from the line.

34min: Penalty to the All Blacks five out from the line and they go for the scrum. After dominating the match, Scotland are on the back-foot.

36min: Scotland survives again as they get a turnover at the scrum. But they kick the ball straight to the All Blacks instead of into touch and the All Blacks are back on the attack.

37min: Another penalty to the All Blacks, will they go for goal this time?

38min, PENALTY GOAL ALL BLACKS: Beauden Barrett lands the penalty goal from right in front and the game is tied.

39min: From the restart, Vaea Fifita makes a break down the right wing and the momentum is now with New Zealand.

40min: Codie Taylor drops the ball into touch just before the halfitme siren, so the home side get one last chance before the break.

42min: Play still goes on as the All Blacks win a penalty. They will now have a chance to score before the break.

HALFTIME: What a first half. Scotland, yes Scotland have been the better of the two teams in the first 40 as the game is all square at the break. Scotland has had a number of chances to score, but have failed to capitalise. No tries in the opening 40.

40min: Scotland get the second half started at Murrayfield. The All Blacks let the ball bounce straight into touch.

41min: The All Blacks win the lineout and Vaea Fifita knocs the ball out. Scotland scrum 15 out from the try line.

42min: Scotland five metres from the line... Now inches from the line. But the ball is trapped and the All Blacks win the penalty.

43min: Rieko Ioane causing problems for Scotland as he makes a break down the wing. Now it is the All Blacks who are hot on attack.

44min, TRY ALL BLACKS: As all hookers do in 2017, Codie Taylor just stands on the wing and dives over in the corner. New Zealand leads for the first time in the match. It was bound to happen.

46min: The conversion goes wide, so the All Blacks hold a five point lead.

47min: Scotland on the attack are just outside the 22. They need to score here.

48min: The All Blacks in a penalty. Scotland let the away side off the hook again. But good defence by New Zealand once again.

49min: Time is off as Luke Hamilton is down injured. It looks like the guy on debut has a broken leg. Which is disappointing because Hamilton has been great since coming on.

Due to the injury, George Turner will come on, meaning Stuart McInally will shift to the back row.

The All Blacks are doing some drills to keep the blood flowing as it is only four degrees.

50min: The All Blacks dominate the scrum and win a penalty.

51min: Another penalty advantage to the All Blacks who look like they will score.

TRY ALL BLACKS: New Zealand go over for their second. Sonny Bill Williams puts a grubber kick through and Damian McKenzie dives on the loose ball to score by the posts.

52min: Scotland just outside the 22 and now they really need to score next.

53min: Another knock-on inside the All Blacks 22 and the Scots will rue another missed opportunity.

55min: Scotland back with the ball as Finn Russell clears the ball away.

56min: Another loose carry by Scotland and the All Blacks go on the counter-attack.

57min: The All Blacks looked like they were about to score try number three, but the king of intercepts Finn Rusell coms up with a big play and now the All Blacks are all the way back on their line and the crowd loves it.

59min: Ryan Crotty comes off for what appears to be an HIA. Scotland has the ball just inside New Zealand's 22.

60min: 20 minutes remain and the All Blacks lead by 12 points. Scotland has a lineout five out from the line.

YELLOW CARD ALL BLACKS: Sam Cane is off to the sin-bin for killing the play right in front of the posts as Scotland were about to cross the line.

61min, TRY SCOTLAND: Scotland makes the All Black pay right away as Jonny Gray powers his way over the line.

62min: Finn Russell lands the conversion and it is a five point ball game. The crowd is loving this.

64min: That try has sparked Scotland as they make a break down the muddle but the double knock on lets the All Blacks off the hook. Ryan Crotty is back on the park. TJ Perenara is also on for Aaron Smith.

66min: The All Blacks have just kiled about three minutes with scrum resets.

TRY ALL BLACKS: Beauden Barrett sprints over the line for try number three. Sonny Bill Williams attacks the line and offloads to his five-five who dives over to counter Scotlands try.

68min: Barrett converts his own try as the All Blacks restore their 12 point lead. Sonny Bill Williams heads off for Anton Lienert-Brown.

69min: Scotland gets the match back underway and the All Blacks five-way another penalty. Lineout five out from the line.

70min: Penalty to Scotland right in front and they take a quick tap.

71min, YELLOW CARD ALL BLACKS: Wyatt Crockett goes to the bin for taking out the halfback (And remember that halfbacks are protected species) just as Sam Cane is about to come back on for killing the play.

With Crockett in the bin, Kane Hames has to come back on and Vaea Fifita heads off.

72min: Another penalty to Scotland right in front. The Scots wanted to take it quickly but the referee brings the playback which the crowd doesn't like.

The All Blacks win a penalty at the scrum which is a let down for Scotland.

74min: Liam Squire makes a break and is tackled, but they turn the ball over and Scotland clear the ball downfield quickly as possible.

75min: Another blown chance by Scotland.

76min, TRY SCOTLAND: It is not over yet! Huw Jones scores in the corner. Stuart Hogg stabs a grubber through and Tommy Seymour gathers and finds Jones on the inside.

77min: Three minutes to go and it is a five point ball game.

79min: One minute to go. Scotland with the ball.

FULLTIME: Stuart Hogg makes a break down the wing and throws it back infield but it goes forward and the referee blows his whistle and that is it. Heartbreak for Scotland as Stuart Hogg is in tears knowing he could have made history.

SCOTLAND 17 - 22 ALL BLACKS

And what do I think of the game? Well, it was scrappy I would have to say. But our discipline has been a bit of a letdown because we conceded most penalties as well as both yellow cards handed out from the English referee to both Sam Cane (For killing the ball) & Wyatt Crockett (For taking out the opposing halfback) which proved to be costly. And what about patriotic Scottish fullback Stuart Hogg, because he was their star performer of the game for his heroic performance (And he was the hero of Scottish rugby) but the Scots missed out on making history (As Hogg's pass drifted forward when the ref blew the final whistle, effectively ending the match in front of a sell-out crowd at Murrayfield).

And finally in other rugby news such as England continue their dominance against the Wallabies in a highly controversial fashion (Even the Wallaby coach Michael Chieka isn't so happy with the all important decisions such as a no try from Wallaby captain Michael Hooper because he was clearly offside then Hooper getting sent to the sin bin due to multiple cynical infringements from the maul followed by Kurtley Beale who joined Hooper in the bin for a deliberate knock down then a try scored by long range goal kicking winger Elliot Daly whether it's out or not when the ball touched the sideline then Marika Koroibete crossed over but former Wallaby captain Stephen Moore obstructed one of the English players as he made his tackle but Chieka is facing disciplinary action for his conduct which is currently under investigation by World Rugby but he was cleared for that) with a win over in Twickenham in London then South Africa topple France by 1 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis then Argentina scraped past Italy over in Firenze (Which is located in the Tuscany region) then Ireland win by 3 against Fiji at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin & the under strength Wales side win against Georgia by 13 points in another scrappy game during their 1st meeting between the 2 nations at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

So that is my 167th blog of the year 2017 (MMXVII) & my 87th this year.