THE failure to beat the smaller nation of New Zealand in 31 Test meetings spread over 112 years may be one of the most galling statistics in sport, but rarely has Scotland got under All Black skin more than on the current captain’s debut a decade ago.
John Barclay was part of a make-shift team that met the tournament favourites in the pool stages at the 2007 World Cup and there was nothing all that remarkable about the 40 point thrashing they suffered, failing to register a point.
However, for all that he only partially remembers it this way, the young flanker was generally deemed to have out-played his opposite number in defeat as he made his mark on a day the New Zealanders felt undermined their preparations for the knockout stages where they were to suffer a shock defeat to France.
“I remember the speed of the game in my first international. It was their big pool game to prepare for the quarter final and they were hacked off we had put out a second string team effectively. It was tough for me because before we kept getting asked about putting out a second string team (but) I loved the occasion, getting my first cap, the whole week was great, although as far as first caps go the result was not what I always dreamed of,” he said, modestly brushing aside the suggestion that he had got the better of then All Black captain Richie McCaw.
This will be the All Blacks’ first visit to Murrayfield without their iconic captain since 1993, but as Barclay acknowledged, they are hardly less formidable in his absence and that of others.
“That is just the way of New Zealand isn’t it?” he said, rhetorically. “They had a lot of people retiring at the same time, Conrad Smith, Nonu, Dan Carter and these guys so maybe they were worried about what would happen next. I saw a few things after the Lions saying the All Blacks were vulnerable on this tour. That is a bit comical really when you look at their record. They are still really good.”
Barclay acknowledged that there is always an extra air of anticipation when the New Zealanders are in town and said Scotland would naturally pay additional respect to the world’s number one side when doing their pre-match analysis, but that their principal focus would remain on themselves.
“For me it’s always a big week when you come in and get to play for Scotland but I think when the All Blacks are in town everyone gets excited, the media get excited, the fans get excited.
“It’s a big challenge for us, the best team in the world coming to our back garden,” he said.
“It’s really exciting to be playing at Murrayfield again. For me it’s about the challenge of playing the best team in the world and trying to beat them (but) we’ve got a few things we need to fix ourselves, get our own house in order a little bit first.”
As to how much discussion there had been of seeking to become the first Scots to beat the All Blacks, he was politely dismissive.
“There would be no use talking about that would there? It’s one of those stats isn’t it?” he said. “We’ve certainly not mentioned it.
“We’ll go out, it’s a huge challenge but an exciting one to try and change that record.”
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