All Blacks damned with faintest praise

Ian McGeechan cast doubt on New Zealand's attempt to regain their status as the tallest pine in rugby's forest, even though his side lost 37-6 at Murrayfield.

The Scotland coach, so much an admirer of All Black rugby you suspect he has a silver fern tattoo, said: 'There was nothing between the two packs, absolutely nothing. I thought they were eeksie peeksie (an old Scots saying for equal.' He added that the margin of defeat was not a reflection of the game. McGeechan believes the end of the autumn jousting season for rugby's super powers is a time to prepare for the next World Cup in 2003.

He said: 'This is a key period.You have to be rebuilding.You have to be introducing new players, ahead of the competition that really matters. France and England are in best shape. England will be delighted.' McGeechan has reservations about the All Black forwards but believes they will get it right. He said: 'They were the best side we played last year and could have been Tri-Nations champions this year.' Line-out problems were evident against Scotland but they had a deadly combination of pace and power in the back division and a playmaker and goalkicker without equal in Andrew Mehrtens. He was successful with eight kicks out of eight and behind most creative moments in an otherwise uninspiring display.

Mehrtens, analysing the difference between his side's performances at Lansdowne Road and Murrayfield, said: 'Scotland were much more accurate in their tackling.Their defence was bloody good.' Which was why the All Blacks took 72 minutes to score a try. Scotland, brave and efficient in defence, were ineffectual in attack, with Gregor Townsend and John Leslie looking past their best.