Scotland have had agonising defeats here in recent years while waiting for that first victory against New Zealand. A flat start might have been expected on the opening weekend of the campaign, but that has not been the pattern in those losses at the same point in previous seasons.
Ewan Ashman’s second try came from open play, after a mandatory penalty to the corner following a yellow card shown to Lakai. In that spell Scotland were penalised more often, but New Zealand’s offences came when the pressure was at its highest.
Scotland were left still chasing a first win over the All Blacks after a disconnected display at Murrayfield in their first outing of the season.
The first half was open. Seven tries were scored, and the scoring ran both ways. After the break, the home team could not get back into the contest.
The home side never found a rhythm, and neither did the ground. New Zealand did.
Scotland badly needed to make the first move in the second half. They did not.
Scotland will need a vastly improved showing if they are to avoid a 10th defeat in their last 11 meetings with the Springboks.