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New Zealand can be beaten - Scotland captain Ross Ford
Captain Ross Ford thinks Scotland can earn a first-ever win over New Zealand when the autumn Test series kicks off at Murrayfield next month.
"We go into every game believing that we can win," the Edinburgh hooker told BBC Scotland.
"It's a great opportunity to play against the best team in the world and everyone will be raring to go.
"It will take an 80-minute performance out of the top drawer, but that's what we have been working on."
Reigning world champions New Zealand visit Edinburgh on 11 November, with matches against South Africa and Tonga to follow - all of the action being shown on BBC television.
Scotland's autumn Tests
- 11 November: v New Zealand (Murrayfield)
- 17 November, v South Africa (Murrayfield)
- 24 November, v Tonga (Pittodrie)
Scotland have yet to beat the All Blacks in 28 attempts since 1905, their best effort being two draws, in 1964 and 1983.
They were thrashed 49-3 the last time the sides met, at Murrayfield in 2010.
Following their World Cup success on home soil, New Zealand can complete a clean-sweep in the inaugural Rugby Championship, the expanded Tri-Nations, when they face South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday.
"Everyone is excited about the match," added Ford, who led the Scots to summer wins in Australia, Fiji and Samoa.
"We want to perform well and do Scotland proud. We've been working on our consistency and repeating our good work.
"We've just got to make sure that happens against the All Blacks because it will take that to beat them."
Sean Lamont joined Ford and Dave Denton to model Scotland's new away kit and the experienced winger has been heartened by the early season form of Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh.
"Both teams have started quite well and long may it continue," said the Glasgow back.
"Glasgow finished top four last year and that's our aim again - and to take it further.
"Edinburgh will look to replicate their Heineken Cup success and improve on their league standing.
"It's good for Scottish rugby, we need the level improving to attract bigger crowds and that way the game keeps moving forward."
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Comment number 130.
Mooloo Man5th October 2012 - 21:56
McCaw doesnt take his sabatical until the end of the NH tour. And even if he doesnt play I hope the NH teams dont see that as weakness. His understudy is a young chap called Sam Cane who helped destroy the Irish 60-0 by scoring twice in his first cap
Link to this (Comment number 130)
Comment number 129.
Moodusters5th October 2012 - 20:19
New Zealand by 35 points! I'd put my house on it!!!
Link to this (Comment number 129)
Comment number 128.
dantheman9175th October 2012 - 20:18
@127: Yes there is most certainly a gap between Wal/Eng & Scotland, can you see Sco winning a minimum of 4 games or doing a grand slam, Going to places like Twickenham/Aviva in the process and winning? Maybe in the future who knows, but right now, certainly not, they've played well but not well enough. Who knows maybe they wont be the "whipping boys" but myself i see them 1 from 5
Link to this (Comment number 128)
Comment number 127.
Jose Jones5th October 2012 - 20:10
@dantheman,.. surly you can't say there is a gap between England or Wales to Scotland after watching the games from the last 6N,.. they were tragically unlucky and the results since have proved it. When they start putting those points away we can all watch oput,.. they are not going to be whipping boys in the next 6N. They are a far better team than thir 6N results suggest.
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Comment number 126.
dantheman9175th October 2012 - 19:16
Im not saying Scotland didnt deserve to beat Eng, because they did. Im stating that in general we have that top 4 and then Sco & Ita.
Scot have closed the gap like i said, in my opinion though it just means they will give teams a better/closer game. You cant deny the "top 4" are better than Sco surely? Hense my prediction. How do you see Scotlands 6N panning out then ?
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Comments 5 of 130