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Knowing full well just what a missed opportunity this had been, Gregor Townsend spoke of his desire to get straight back in the ring and have another swing at the All Blacks.
‘I would love to play New Zealand again next week because of what we learned from that performance’ said the Scotland head coach in his post-match assessments.
The old promise of jam tomorrow, an all too familiar and tiresome theme of Townsend’s time in charge of the national team.
If these two teams were to face each other again next weekend, would anyone really back Scotland to win? Would it really be any different?
This was a movie we had seen too many times before. History was within Scotland’s grasp, just as it was back in 2017 and 2022, yet they fell short.
There is no glory to be found in that. The days of Scotland fulfilling the role of plucky underdog or brave loser should be a thing of the past.
Gregor Townsend will quickly come under fire if his side falls short again at home to Argentina
Damian McKenzie is congratulated after the bone-twisting late try that secured victory
Scotland competed well for about 25 minutes but were otherwise far too error-prone
That was something Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu touched on in his own post-match comments, saying: ‘I don’t want to say I’m proud and we played well, because I think we’re a better team than that now.’
Much had been made of how the experience of having so many players involved in a victorious British and Irish Lions tour in the summer would benefit Scotland.
That knowledge of getting over the line in big games would be invaluable. That winning mentality would be contagious. Well, if it was, Scotland soon found the antidote.
Whilst they will naturally feel a sense of pride at the way they fought back from being 17-0 down at half-time to level the match at 17-17 on the hour, there should also be an inquest into the first-half no-show.
When New Zealand scored the opening try after three minutes, Scotland allowed Josh Lord, a 6ft 9ins lock, to pick up at the base of a ruck and charge straight through the middle of their defence.
Ewan Ashman completely switched off and actually wasn’t even looking at the ball when Lord picked it up and galloped upfield, before offloading for Cam Roigard to score.
When the All Blacks scored their second try on the cusp of half-time, Scotland switched off again and weren’t set properly down the blindside.
Finn Russell's successful penalty attempt drew the sides level but that was as good as it got
Wallace Sititi carved them open, the big back-rower selling a dummy to Darcy Graham before feeding Will Jordan on the inside.
That try came when they were down to 14 men. From Scotland’s point of view, it was absolutely criminal. To concede two tries as soft as that, they made life easy for the All Blacks.
Scotland actually defended well when they were camped on their own line, but those two mistakes can’t just be glossed over or overlooked. They undid everything and gave them a mountain to climb.
Picking up three yellow cards, the All Blacks played 30 minutes of this match with 14 men. Scotland didn’t punish them anywhere near enough.
They were held up over the try line on two occasions, whilst also being wasteful with a couple of other chances that came their way.
So for all the excitement of that comeback after half-time, the cold, harsh reality is that Scotland only played well for about 25 minutes or so.
That’s just not enough to beat the All Blacks, a team who always come up clutch in the big moments when the game is on the line.
Townsend must lift his side and instil fresh belief ahead of the visit of Argentina to Murrayfield
That’s exactly what they did once again on Saturday, led by the brilliant Damian McKenzie. His 50-22 was like a dagger to Scottish hearts.
All the more so when he then raced over to score in the corner with a quite stupendous finish, contorting his body in a fashion that would have left mere mortals needing spinal surgery.
It was McKenzie who then split the posts with a booming penalty to put the game beyond Scotland. Having only been on the field for just over half an hour, he was man of the match by a distance.
Given that this is not a vintage All Blacks team, and also the fact they played with 14 men for half an hour, Scotland will never get a better chance to beat them.
This was their big moment and they fell short. For all Townsend might talk of wanting another crack at them, his team’s inability to get over the line continues to scupper genuine progress being made.
Given the form we have seen so far in the autumn, England will probably beat the All Blacks at Twickenham next weekend.
Scotland will face Argentina in what is now a must-win for Townsend. Victory over the Pumas now becomes of paramount importance.
