Kelly Brown believes hard work and a strong start will be vital if Scotland are to challenge the might of New Zealand.
Scotland have never beaten New Zealand, drawing twice in 28 Tests, while since Brown's international debut the sides have met four times and Scotland have scored 19 points in total, to their opponents' 160.
The All Blacks won the most recent fixture 49-3 at Murrayfield two years ago.
New Zealand suggested they had not even checked the Scotland team 48 hours before kick-off, although Brown insists that does not smack of arrogance.
"They're the world champions and they've decided to focus on themselves," he added. "That's entirely up to them. They've got the results to back it up.
"It's just up to us now to us now to make sure that we put them under pressure. We know what we've got to do. We've got a plan of how we want to start the match. It's now just a case of going out there and implementing it."
"It's very strong as we always knew it would be. Whatever side they put out will be very, very tough.
"They are fortunate that in their country they have probably got 50 or 60 international-quality players, so any team they ever put out will be very strong, but we're looking forward to it."
Scotland have never beaten New Zealand, drawing twice in 28 Tests, while since Brown's international debut the sides have met four times and Scotland have scored 19 points in total, to their opponents' 160.
The All Blacks won the most recent fixture 49-3 at Murrayfield two years ago.
New Zealand suggested they had not even checked the Scotland team 48 hours before kick-off, although Brown insists that does not smack of arrogance.
"They're the world champions and they've decided to focus on themselves," he added. "That's entirely up to them. They've got the results to back it up.
"It's just up to us now to us now to make sure that we put them under pressure. We know what we've got to do. We've got a plan of how we want to start the match. It's now just a case of going out there and implementing it."
"It's very strong as we always knew it would be. Whatever side they put out will be very, very tough.
"They are fortunate that in their country they have probably got 50 or 60 international-quality players, so any team they ever put out will be very strong, but we're looking forward to it."
Comments
melkdave says...
Brown is correct ,the only thing that unsettles the ABs or any top team is putting them under constant pressure.Get up on to them asap ,cut down their space ,and tackle/defend like demons and battle at the breakdown.Of course the ABs are the best atm ,in handling that pressure its why they are number one in the IRB rankings.But as Australia showed in their last game ,you can even do it to a team as good as New Zealand.Hopefully Scotland can do the same or simlar..
Posted 12:53 10th November 2012
Isograford says...
50-60 International quality players? lol. Okay even New Zealanders would not believe that one. Scotland aren't facing the All Blacks top lineup this weekend, that's just a fact.
We're actually struggling for depth and experience in quite a few positions, especially with so many players in their prime playing overseas...Kaino, Sonny-Bill, Nick Evans etc. No other country has to regenerate new players as a result.
Posted 08:21 10th November 2012