Scotland v New Zealand live: All Blacks break Scottish hearts with dramatic win in Murrayfield thriller

Scotland's search for a first-ever win over New Zealand continues after their spirited second-half fightback ultimately proved fruitless in a 25-17 defeat at Murrayfield.

Gregor Townsend's side went in 17-0 down at the break despite being twice held up over the line.

The Scots roared back to make it 17-17 by the hour mark after tries from Ewan Ashman and Kyle Steyn, and they looked the likelier winners as the match moved into the fourth quarter.

But the All Blacks - who had three players yellow-carded - regained their composure in the closing stages, with a try and a long-range penalty from substitute Damian McKenzie taking the game away from the hosts, who have now failed to win this fixture in 33 attempts over 120 years.

"It’s hard to find the words,” Townsend says. “Really disappointed. The effort that went in was all character.

"The win was there and we needed to kick on when it was 17-17. Outstanding by us but we need to win these games. We need to make that next step.

"I'd love to play New Zealand next week again, because of what we have learnt from that performance."

“It was a tough old Test,” McKenzie said. “The boys started well. They were on top of us for the majority of the second half, but I'm proud of how we finished off.

"Just being patient. Once we had the opportunity to hold the ball, play in the right areas of the field.

"Just a bit of luck I guess [to score at the end]. Really proud of the effort tonight."

33 times now Scotland have tried and failed to beat the All Blacks - it says plenty about how they have developed under Gregor Townsend that they have run them so close of late but that signature win slipped away again - like McKenzie through Blair Kinghorn’s grasp for the crucial score.

It’s the same old story for Scotland in this fixture - close, but no celebratory cigar! The hoodoo continues against the All Blacks, but what character they showed to roar back from a 17-0 deficit to look the likelier winners on the hour mark.

But that took real steel from New Zealand, too, to find a way when they seemed to have collapsed. Fair play to Damian McKenzie, particularly.

One last assault, maybe, for Scotland to salvage some pride. Or not - penalty to New Zealand, and that, after a tap and tonk to touch, will be that.

The dagger! The smiling assassin strikes again to surely put this beyond Scotland’s reach!

Superb from Damian McKenzie, battered, bruised and bloodied but nerveless with his strike. Through it sails - the All Blacks will escape Murrayfield again!

Into the final few minutes, and the All Blacks maul does damage again - 15 metres it makes, and drawing a penalty out of Scotland, too.

On comes the tee - Damian McKenzie will look to seal it from 45 metres on the angle.

How many more chances will Scotland get? They win possession soon after the restart but it isn’t theirs for long, Leicester Fainga’anuku limpeting over the ball to earn a crucial penalty for the All Blacks.