BRING 'EM ON AGAIN

Toony keen on NZ rematch after loss

- STUART BATHGATE

GREGOR TOWNSEND reckons Scotland came closer than ever before to beating the All Blacks on Saturday after seeing his side go down to an agonising 25-17 defeat at Murrayfield.

And the head coach can't wait to take on New Zealand again next year after the Autumn Nations Series match the 33rd meeting between the teams and third since Townsend took over - followed other narrow losses to the Kiwis, 22-17 in 2017 and 31-23 three years ago.

In terms of points difference, this was no closer than the previous two match-ups. But Townsend believes it was an improvement after his team dominated the second half.

He said: "It felt a different game than the last two. It felt like there were periods when we were the dominant side - and I don't think we were dominant, even in 2022.