Brave Scotland will be burning with a grievous sense of injustice after watching all their hard work go to waste at Murrayfield, eventually going down 37-6 to the All Blacks.

Outstanding contributions from Andrew Mower, captain Tom Smith and Scott Murray counted for nothing as New Zealand ripped in for three tries in the final eight minutes to inflict another heavy defeat on spirited opponents whose efforts deserved far more.

Full-back Brendan Laney put the raging controversy over his selection to one side with a superb start, although his lack of fitness told in the final stages.

With 13 minutes remaining, Scotland trailed by just nine points - and even that was flattering to the All Blacks.

Chris Paterson failed with a simple penalty which would have brought his team back into the game.

But Andrew Mehrtens maintained an almost flawless goalkicking performance, before Tana Umaga and Mark Robinson crossed within six minutes at the end.

Scotland's desperation was summed up deep into injury-time when Jon Steel raced back 70 metres to prevent Richie McCaw sliding over only to see the ball spill loose to Umaga, who flipped a pass to Jonah Lomu to stride in unopposed.

Coach Ian McGeechan will be rightly proud of his team's efforts, although the cold fact remains that Scotland are no nearer beating the world's most glamorous side than they have been since their very first meeting in 1905.

All eyes were on Laney as he took his first touch on the international stage. The home supporters were more than happy with a perfectly executed box kick which was taken low down by Byron Kelleher but with enough Scottish tacklers streaming forward to force a turnover.

Laney showed an impressive range of kicking skills, although bravery gave way to good sense late in the opening period when he opted to hack a loose ball into touch rather than pick up and race back with Lomu bearing down aggressively.

The 28-year-old full-back looked as though he was going to jink through the All Blacks' defensive line at one stage. But the door was slammed in his face by Umaga, a similar fate befalling Gregor Townsend later in the half.

As they had done against Ireland seven days earlier, the All Blacks started slowly - enthusiastic Scottish tacklers forcing them into a series of errors and captain Anton Oliver hardly aiding his team's cause with some poor line-out throwing which gifted the home side possession on three separate occasions.

Paterson twice put his team in front with 30metre penalties only for Mehrtens to peg him back and then put the All Blacks ahead for the first time with his third successful kick.

By then the All Blacks had started to get into their stride, Kelleher and Umaga bursting forward - although on each occasion Scotland managed to repel the threat.

Kelleher was forced off the field just past the half-hour point, Mark Robinson earning his second cap as a replacement.

New Zealand maintained their offensive after the interval. Steel did well to haul Lomu down within inches of the Scottish line before Laney did even better, sliding under Oliver to prevent the Kiwi captain grounding the ball after he was barged over.

The subsequent clear-up operation came at a cost - with Mower, whose staggering performance outshone those of his illustrious opponents, deliberately killing the ball to allow Mehrtens his fourth penalty.

Cruelly, Scotland's best spell of the game coincided with them falling further behind.

Townsend stepped inside the All Black 22 and tried to flip a pass off the floor only for McCaw to snatch the ball away almost before it had left the fly-half's grasp.

New Zealand swiftly moved it out to Lomu, who charged 40 metres before kicking inside instead of trying to take Laney on.

Paterson hared back to clear but slid past the ball with three visiting tacklers approaching.

The Gala man eventually grasped possession but refused to release, conceding a penalty from which Mehrtens increased the All Blacks' lead.

The Kiwi fly-half maintained his 100record with his sixth success, after Doug Howlett's right-wing burst had ended with a Scottish offside.

Paterson, who had missed from the touchline earlier in the game, inexplicably missed a gilt-edged chance from in front of the posts before New Zealand cut loose to end Scotland's resistance.

Teams:

Scotland: Laney, Steel, McLaren, J. Leslie, Paterson, Townsend, Nicol, T. Smith, G. Bulloch, Stewart, S. Murray, Grimes, White, Mower, Simpson.

Replacements: Henderson for J. Leslie (70), G. Burns for Nicol (61), Scott for G. Bulloch (74), Graham for Stewart (58), Fullarton for S. Murray (78), Taylor for Simpson (58).

Not Used: Ross.

Paterson 2.

New Zealand: MacDonald, Howlett, Umaga, A. Mauger, Lomu, Mehrtens, Kelleher, Feek, Oliver, Somerville, Jack, Maxwell, Thorne, McCaw, Robertson.

Replacements: Blair for MacDonald (61), Robinson for Kelleher (32), Hewett for Feek (61).

Not Used: T. Willis, Waller, Holah, Ralph.

Tries: Umaga, Robinson, Lomu.

Cons: Mehrtens 2.

Pens: Mehrtens 6.

Att: 67,456

Ref: Pablo Cesar-Deluca (RFU).