Rugby: New Zealand will enter the second match of their autumn Grand Slam quest with Scotland tomorrow without Keven Mealamu after the hooker's appeal against his four-week ban was only partially successful.
Mealamu had a month-long ban for an apparent headbutt to England captain Lewis Moody reduced to two weeks after an International Rugby Board appeal committee adjudged the incident to be foul play, but not intentional.
Mealamu will therefore miss the Murrayfield match and next week’s meeting with Ireland, but will be permitted to return for the November 28 meeting with Wales in Cardiff. The 82-Test veteran had been named by head coach Graham Henry in the All Blacks starting line-up, but now his place goes to the uncapped Hikawera Elliot.
It means New Zealand have made five changes to their starting XV from last weekend’s match with England, which they won 26-16. Captain Richie McCaw and full-back Mils Muliaina retained their places and will earn their 92nd caps at Murrayfield, equalling Sean Fitzpatrick’s All Blacks record.
McCaw and Muliaina, who first played against each other in 1997, could win their 93rd caps against Ireland in Dublin next weekend, but first the focus is on Scotland. McCaw made his All Blacks debut in 2001 and is renowned as the greatest openside flanker on the planet, but Muliaina is equally adept as a full-back, coming into the line or as the last figure in defence.
New Zealand are determined to deliver tomorrow after defeat in Hong Kong to Australia ended a run of 15 straight Test successes before the winning feeling was restored by victory at Twickenham last weekend.
Conrad Smith, one of the five changes after coming in as centre in place of Ma’a Nonu, is excited ahead of tomorrow’s clash. “Everyone’s pretty keen to perform and that usually takes care of itself,” said Smith. “The Scots have been brilliant in the last few Tests and the Kiwis, naturally, don’t give them enough credit. But if you actually look at the games that they’ve played, they’re as much a threat as any of the teams we’ll play.”
In 105 years, the All Blacks have never lost to Scotland, winning on 25 occasions and drawing twice, the last time being 27 years ago. In recent times, the All Blacks have made numerous changes against Scotland,yet still prevailed en route to Home Nations clean sweeps in 2005 and 2008. Henry, though, has opted for continuity on this occasion, keeping the nucleus of the team which beat England.
Jimmy Cowan returns at scrumhalf, Liam Messam, who made his debut against Scotland two years ago, was named at flanker, Smith comes in at centre and Isaia Toeava comes on to the right wing. With Scotland unbeaten in the last four Tests and having taken the scalp of Australia last autumn, the All Blacks are conscious their hosts are capable of an upset.