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E. Gallagher (21', 22', 32', 33')
Tries
M. Palu (1'), M. Palu (2'), M. Vaipulu (7'), M. Vaipulu (8'), J. McGregor (26', 27'), E. King (29', 30'), L. Sae (34', 35', 46', 47'), du Plessis (37', 38'), A. Sititi (41', 42'), T. Turner (44', 45'), A. Saili (80', 82')
H. Nelson (22', 23', 33', 34')
Conversions
B. Sorensen-McGee (2', 29', 35', 38', 42', 45', 47'), B. Sorenson-McGee (3', 30', 36', 39', 43', 46', 48'), H. King (80', 83')
This was confirmation, not discovery. A rotated Black Ferns pack and a backline with new combinations simply overpowered a Scotland side already leaking points in this series. Once the contact went New Zealand’s way and the game loosened, it became a procession. Seven changes from Lyon, no Ruahei Demant or Kaipo Olsen-Baker, first Test on Scottish soil — none of it blunted the visiting punch. It just underlined how deep they are when the ball is fast and the collisions are theirs.
The “why” sits at the gain line. New Zealand won it repeatedly after the opening skirmishes, then recycled at a tempo Scotland couldn’t live with. Tara Turner didn’t overplay; she just kept the ruck speed high and picked off soft shoulders. The new midfield pairing of Alena Saili and Amy du Plessis gave clean, direct carries to fix defenders, then enough distribution to free pace wider out. Against a defence that had already shipped 64 to Canada, those front-foot touches cracked the guard channels and bent the edges until the line broke in clusters rather than singles.
There was a flicker of contest when Evie Gallagher dragged Scotland into the game with two close-range finishes, the only period the hosts consistently won post-tackle. But as soon as the match breathed, New Zealand’s depth crushed it. Layla Sae powered over twice before the break and twice just after it — the clearest sign of how the visitors dominated the carry — while Amarante Sititi came on at halftime and immediately scored a quick double, the bench matching the starters’ intensity. From there Scotland’s exits unraveled. With debut starter Ceitidh Ainsworth under heavy heat and clearance distance inconsistent, New Zealand were playing on repeat entries and Turner was feeding a back three that didn’t need many phases to finish. Justine McGregor duly cashed in on the right touchline.
If the scoreline looks wild, the numbers explain it. Scotland’s line made initial tackles, but too few of them stuck and New Zealand just kept coming: more carries, far more clean breaks, and total control of the scrum. That cocktail turns parity in possession into a runaway on the board.
CARRIES
CLEAN BREAKS
TACKLE
TACKLES MISSED
TURNOVERS WON
PENALTIES CONCEDED
POSSESSION
SCRUMS
LINEOUTS
Individuals mattered. Sae’s return from a long layoff has changed the balance of New Zealand’s back row; her leg drive through first contact set the tone and her reads over the ball helped slow the only Scottish attacks that threatened. Turner’s tempo was relentless without being reckless, and her two snipes were a scrum-half’s reward for a pack hammering the middle third. du Plessis struck twice before halftime off hard, straight lines; Saili’s late double book-ended the day and reflected how much punch remained even as combinations shifted. Off the tee, Braxton Sorensen-McGee kept the scoreboard racing ahead, and New Zealand’s reserve forwards — Sititi foremost — ensured there was no dip after the interval.
Scotland weren’t empty. Gallagher was again their standard-bearer, not only finishing her brace but also buying front-foot ball with heavy traffic carries. Meryl Smith and Rachel Philipps found pockets of space when the ball finally reached midfield with shape, and Chloe Rollie’s counter-running gave brief relief and field position. The lineout functioned tidily enough. But the defensive picture is the issue: spacing around the ruck stayed vulnerable, the fold was late whenever New Zealand changed point of attack, and one-on-one tackling on the edges unraveled under speed. Add exits that failed to relieve pressure and a rookie nine being asked to clear under a black jersey press, and the dam was always going to burst.
Does the margin flatter the visitors? Not really. Possession wasn’t lopsided, New Zealand actually conceded more penalties, and Scotland made a mountain of tackles — all signs this wasn’t a territory chokehold. It was a contact and speed mismatch. The Black Ferns did leave a small work-on behind: conceding two close-in tries to pick-and-goes will irritate them, and managing tight moments without Demant remains a live question with England next. But when the ruck is this quick and the carries this dominant, they can paper over a lot.
Context matters too. Scotland’s captain has framed these early WXV games as development, and it shows. "These three first games [Canada, New Zealand and Australia] are very much about development, and the second two [both against Australia] are all about performance and results," said Rachel Malcolm in the week. That puts a target on next week: shore up the ruck guards, tidy the exit plan, and keep Gallagher upright. The attack will find moments if they can earn field position without handing the ball back cheaply.
For New Zealand, the takeaway is pleasingly blunt: seven changes didn’t blunt cohesion, leaders emerged across the park, and their strike balance is intact. The collision dominance they enjoyed in Edinburgh won’t come as easily in London, and game management without Demant will be examined, but the depth looks real. For Scotland, the lesson is just as clear. Until the tackle contest and exit accuracy improve, they won’t be able to live with top-two pace when the match opens up. Australia back at Hive is the chance to prove those fixes can stick.
