By Fatma Younis
New Zealand's All Blacks arrive at Murrayfield this weekend carrying a distinct Scottish imprint on their coaching ticket. Head coach Dave Rennie and attack coach Mike Blair, both former Glasgow Warriors figures, have overseen a resurgence in the All Blacks' attacking play as the team seeks to extend an unbeaten run in the Nations Championship.
Rennie and Blair bring Glasgow experience
Rennie spent three years at Glasgow Warriors before a brief stint with Australia, while Blair won 85 caps for Scotland and captained the side 14 times. After turning down a potential path to succeed Gregor Townsend as Scotland head coach, Blair joined Rennie's All Blacks setup earlier this year. The pair return to Murrayfield with a New Zealand side that has beaten France, Italy, Ireland and Australia since July.
Attack transformation yields results
Blair has acknowledged initial impostor syndrome but found the squad highly receptive to his methods. The All Blacks have produced two professional performances against the Wallabies last month, and Blair said the team is in a good place while acknowledging the challenge posed by Scotland at Murrayfield.
Scotland's evolving rivalry
During Blair's playing career, Scotland lost all four meetings with the All Blacks, often by wide margins. The last four encounters have been decided by eight points or fewer, including last year's thriller where Scotland rallied from 17-0 down only to fall short. Townsend's side will rue missed opportunities in recent close matches.
Home confidence builds
Scotland enter the match on the back of a strong start in the United Rugby Championship, with both Edinburgh and Glasgow setting the early pace. Townsend has largely retained a trusted core, though the form of players like Liam McConnell and Freddy Douglas has deepened selection options for a busy November schedule.
All Blacks honor late security chief
The visitors have endured a grueling international itinerary that began in July. This week brought the sudden passing of long-time security chief Logan Cadwallader in Edinburgh. Rennie described Cadwallader as a beloved team man and said the squad will honor his memory on the field.
