The Scottish Team Needs to Take the Next Step Following All Blacks Defeat - Townsend

"Victory was there. We know victory was there."

Head coach Gregor Townsend expressed satisfaction in Scotland's performance versus New Zealand but felt disappointed by a 25-17 loss at their home ground.

Scotland trailed 17-0 at the interval, only to storm back and tie the score on the hour.

However, the New Zealand team, who had three players placed in the penalty box, struck late through Damian McKenzie to deny Scotland the chance of a historic win in this fixture.

"I feel let down primarily, because the hard work that went into that latter period performance was pure determination," Townsend stated.

"We needed to push forward when it got to seventeen all and there were a couple of big moments that went New Zealand's way.

"Outstanding second half, we demonstrated our true selves today and we probably revealed our identity by failing to secure the win as well.

"Progress is evident in this team and we must win those big moments when the game is there for us.

"Elements of that game show we are competitive with the best teams in the world. We just need to make that following advance."

Key Moments of the Match

• Scores from Ewan Ashman and Kyle Steyn brought Scotland back into an gripping contest.
• Darcy Graham and Rory Hutchinson had been held up over the line in the first half when Cameron Roigard and Will Jordan scored for the opponents.

"Opponents get fatigued when you apply pressure," said Townsend, who has now lost multiple home Tests against the All Blacks as manager - all by narrow margins.

"I would like to be playing New Zealand again next week. We play Argentina and we must apply what we have learned.

"This is the initial occasion this team has been united since the Six Nations. To get that cohesion straight away is challenging and to see it grow during the game is positive.

"However it's so frustrating with that effort that we failed to achieve a win.

"It represents the nearest we've been to winning, I believe. We dominated the second half, territory, pressure, ability. We've not achieved that against New Zealand in our past and we are better for the experience.

"Our journey doesn't stop today. We have a very big game coming up and bigger games to come in the Six Nations."

Captain's Response

Scotland leader Sione Tuipulotu described the defeat as "bittersweet" and stressed the significance of a win against Argentina, having opened the autumn series with a historic result against the United States.

"I instructed the boys we needed a reaction at the break," he said. "We could surrender or decide to go for it.

"We had no downside and everything to gain.

"We have to recover for next week because Argentina aren't going to make it any easier."