All Blacks player ratings: Damian McKenzie proves magic man against brave Scotland

Sunday, 9 November 2025

ANALYSIS: Scotland were brave once more but their wait for an elusive win over the All Blacks goes on, after Damian McKenzie’s late heroics at Murrayfield on Sunday (NZ time).

The bench playmaker stepped up when it mattered most after Scott Robertson’s side fell from a 17-0 halftime lead to 17-17, battling three yellow cards through a tough contest, before prevailing 25-17.

Here are The Post’s All Blacks player ratings from the second test of their Grand Slam tour.

15. Will Jordan: Not a good start, dropping first high-ball assignment, spilling again when a counter-attack beckoned, throwing a forward pass (under advantage) and being caught out by a Russell kick to concede a lineout. But scored a classic support-line try right on halftime, to break a four-game (only once previously in his career) scoring drought, and made a trysaving tackle on a rampaging Dempsey. 5

14. Leroy Carter: Cut a frustrated figure out on the right wing when he probably should have had a couple of balls his way when unmarked. Maybe it played into his 33rd minute yellow card for a cynical foot trip on Graham. 3

13. Leicester Fainga’anuku: Showed all his danger from his very first touch with a nice offload, then had a classic power run but had the ball stripped, and also knocked on trying to catch a pop pass. Spent final quarter of an hour on wing and while couldn’t break through a tackle, offloaded crucially for McKenzie try, then came up enormous at breakdown to force massive 77th minute penalty. Fell off seven of his 19 tackle attempts, though. 7

12. Quinn Tupaea: Produced slick distribution early, but really could have given to Carter to finish 20th minute attack. Knocked on with hard charge at tryline and spilled a restart kick, but was a very hard-worker defensively, with plenty of goal-line muscle and hustle. 6

11. Caleb Clarke: Plenty of good involvement on both sides of the ball. Great couple of minutes tormenting Graham on defence, with fine goal-line tackle, then dragging him into touch, while did spill one high ball. But, after what was first back-to-back tests of his year, now looks out again, making way early in second half after head knock. 7

10. Beauden Barrett: Another game and another ho-hum display from the veteran No 10, who really didn’t create anything of note. One deep average kick, another poor clearing one, a cross-kick which didn’t come off, while with the hands didn’t give wide when a Carter try beckoned, before a good flung ball led to winning try. Kicked 3/3 off the tee. 5

9. Cam Roigard: A different man to last week, back to sniping-around-the-fringes style which kept the Scots’ pillar men in check, and scored nice try when backing up up the middle. Good kicking clearances from base, and trysaving tackle on Graham to stop the score which would have put Scotland ahead. 6

8. Peter Lakai: Good return on investment by giving him another go, in a tireless 80-minute display where he stood up in between losing both loosie mates to the bin. Botched second-half kickoff, but was only real blemish, showing nice soft hands on early attack, and going game-high for tackles (20 without a miss) and turnovers (2). 8

7. Ardie Savea: Solid display from the stand-in skipper with no standout moments, aside from turnover penalty win late in first half. Was the culprit of 46th minute yellow card for collapsed maul on first Scotland try which turned the tide. Made big captaincy call at 73rd minute with scores level and penalty eight metres from touch to turn down shot at goal, which proved pivotal. 6

6. Wallace Sititi: Injected back into the starting side and was back to the kind of touch of epic maiden season, proving dangerous running wide with speed and footwork, such as on Graham to set up crucial Jordan try, being second-only to Jordan for All Blacks metres (46). A couple of terrific tackles on goal-line, too, but left in 61st minute after deliberate knock-down sin bin. 7

5. Fabian Holland: What second-row drama? Just keeps on producing in his maiden year in black. Absolute workhorse in the thick of it in another excellent 80-minute display that featured solid lineout takes, good carries and strong defence (18 tackles). 8

4. Josh Lord: To think there are three locks sidelined and to see this display was highly-encouraging, after producing his best display in a black jersey. Epic one-hand pick-up and 30-metre run from ruck to set up game’s first try, then went on to lead All Blacks’ 100% lineout, and work hard in logging 18 tackles without a miss before cramping up at the hour. 8

3. Fletcher Newell: Not the same kind of scrum dominance we have seen plenty of this year, and pinged at one for angle on his ball trying to promote the open side. Solid otherwise, making nine tackles with no misses. 5

2. Codie Taylor: Had the lineout functioning in good order, and made some decent carries with ball in hand. Copped two penalties (neck roll and hands on ground at ruck), while made great heavy tackle on Schoeman to force a knock-on at the tryline with the hosts threatening to take the lead. 6

1. Ethan de Groot: Big moment on return after 10-minute spell for cut eye when able to twist scrum to use blind side, which All Blacks did to perfection for Jordan try. Clumsy ball-off-boot moment at a ruck which allowed Scotland a dangerous counter. 5

RESERVES

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (Taylor, 57min): Provided some good bulk in the final quarter, particularly at maul time, after getting crucial lineout throws on point. 6

17. Tamaiti Williams (de Groot, 28min & 52min): Initial first-half cameo, then back for a second stint where his size was useful. 6

18. Pasilio Tosi (Newwell, 55min): One big surge upfield from a loose ball and again proved a handy hefty impact man. 6

19. Sam Darry (Lord, 60min): Back in black for first time this year and picked up a lineout steal. 6

20. Du’Plessis Kirifi (Sititi, 72min): Injected when Sititi’s yellow card elapsed, but no time to really have a say. N/R

21. Cortez Ratima: A rare unused sub in the modern game as Roigard was fully relied on. N/R

22. Billy Proctor (Carter, 66min): On to partner Tupaea in midfield, but didn’t get ball in his hands. N/R

23. Damian McKenzie (Clarke, 45min): The magic man. McKenzie’s best role in the side has long been debated, but it’s cameos like these that make him indeed seem like the best option as the bench man, bringing so much spark when it’s needed most. Was injected earlier than anticipated due to Clarke injury, and was forced to work for his rewards, with plenty of stout defence, leaving his face bloodied. Caught offside in front of Roigard kick which allowed Russell to level the scores, but then the stage was his. Brilliant 50-22 on 70 minutes was crucial with the attack stuttering. Then produced an epic finish in left corner, somehow twisting to get the ball down. Hit a shocking conversion attempt, but then banged over magnificent 79th-minute match-winning penalty from 45 metres out, 15 metres in from left touch. The hero the All Blacks couldn’t do without. 9