Deflated Gregor Townsend admitted Scotland fell below his expectations as they slumped to a demoralising 43-21 Nations Championship defeat at home to emotionally-charged New Zealand .

The Scots sensed a chance to notch their first ever win over the All Blacks as, despite not being at their best, they trailed by just three points, 24-21, at the end of an exhilarating, seven-try first half.

Wallace Sititi, Ethan de Groot, Peter Lakai and Beuden Barrett all scored before the break for the visitors, who lost both Lakai and Sititi to first-half yellow cards, while Ewan Ashman became the first Scotland player to notch a hat-trick in this fixture.

New Zealand ran away with the match after the break (Steve Welsh/PA).…