Scotland vs New Zealand delivered a dramatic first half at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday, 7 November 2026, with Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman scoring three tries against the All Blacks in the Nations Championship. The contest has generated discussion under the #SCOvNZL hashtag as Scotland chase a landmark first victory over New Zealand.
New Zealand led 24–21 at half-time in the live match account reviewed for this report. That is a half-time score, not a final result; the match was still in progress when this article was prepared.
Ashman’s first-half hat-trick keeps Scotland in touch
The All Blacks struck first through Wallace Sititi, but Scotland responded with a driving-maul try from Ashman, converted by Finn Russell. New Zealand then found further scores through Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett, showing why Scotland could not afford to lose concentration even for a few moments.
What prevented the visitors from pulling clear was Scotland’s determination close to the line. Ashman crossed again and completed his hat-trick in the 38th minute after another forward drive. Russell’s conversion cut the deficit to just three points as the first half approached its conclusion.
It was an extraordinary scoring contribution from a hooker in one of the biggest international fixtures of Scotland’s autumn. Yet the match remained finely balanced: New Zealand’s pace and finishing had already caused serious problems, while Scotland’s set-piece pressure provided a route back into the contest.
Why #SCOvNZL matters
The abbreviation SCOvNZL refers to Scotland versus New Zealand, making it a convenient match-specific hashtag for supporters following the action, team news and reaction online. For Scotland, the stakes extend beyond this particular Nations Championship fixture.
The national side entered the match without a victory over the All Blacks in their long international rivalry. Their previous meeting at Murrayfield, in November 2025, ended 25–17 to New Zealand. A win this time would therefore represent a major breakthrough rather than an ordinary home result.
Scotland’s experienced selection
Head coach Gregor Townsend selected Sione Tuipulotu as captain, partnering Huw Jones in midfield. Finn Russell started at fly-half alongside scrum-half Ben White. Kyle Rowe lined up at full-back, with Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie on the wings.
The starting pack included Rory Sutherland, Ashman and Zander Fagerson in the front row, with Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings behind them. Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey completed the back row. The matchday squad included a strong Glasgow Warriors contingent, providing established combinations across several positions.
On the New Zealand side, Codie Taylor captained the team, with Damian McKenzie at fly-half and Beauden Barrett at full-back. The visitors arrived with a formidable record against Scotland, but the first-half scoreboard showed how competitive this meeting had become.
When and where is Scotland vs New Zealand being played?
The Nations Championship fixture kicked off at 2:10pm GMT on Saturday, 7 November, at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in Edinburgh. ITV Sport carried the match in the United Kingdom. Supporters should consult live coverage or official match reports for developments after the half-time position described above.
What happens next?
The deciding questions after the break were whether Scotland could sustain their forward pressure, how New Zealand would respond to the home side’s momentum, and which team would take its chances in the closing stages. Ashman’s hat-trick had made this more than a routine encounter for the favourites, but there was no confirmed final outcome at the time of writing.
Sources: The Guardian live match coverage; Scottish Rugby official team announcement; Edinburgh Rugby match preview.