Scotland’s young rugby side have to play the same open, attacking style that tamed the Pumas if they want to live with the All Blacks at BT Murrayfield on Saturday.
The world champions have never lost to Scotland in 29 games over 109 years, and the Scots have conceded 172 points in the last four games alone against the New Zealanders all of them on their home ground.
But to be freaked by the history and to simply try to contain the swarm of Black shirts is the surest way to another dispiriting loss, believes young centre Mark Bennett, who made his debut in the 41-31 victory over Argentina on Saturday.
“I think we need to carry on like this,” said Bennett. “The All Blacks are obviously a top quality side who have got a good result against England. They’ll be tough to beat.
“But, if we go out there and try to contain them, we’re just playing into their hands. We need to go out and pick how we want to play against them and execute it.
“I would think it would be similar to how we played against Argentina. We scored 41 points and five tries. Why would you change that?”
The 21-year-old from Cumnock enjoyed his first game in senior national colours and might have had a try himself if Jonny Gray had delivered a pass on his inside when the Scots were flying in the 20 minutes before half-time, having already scored three quick tries from Gray, his elder brother Richie and wing Sean Maitland.
“I’ve been giving him a hard time about it, winding him up, but these things happen,” continued Bennett.
“We made a lot of good line breaks, and the most important thing is how many we converted.
“It was great to play in a brilliant win, that’s the most points we’ve scored against Argentina in the professional era and our first win here against them in 24 years.”
Bennett thinks it could be the start of something that puts the smiles back on the faces of Scottish rugby fans.
“I think today is a statement of intent,” he added. “It’s been really, really positive, the past week and a bit. We’ve all really bought into this way of playing.
“There has been a sort of realisation that we were going away from the Scottish way of playing. We’ve been looking at our roots and the heritage of our game, bringing back that fire.
“(Head Coach) Vern Cotter has fuelled that, I think he had significant conversations with past greats, talking about what we are, what traits do Scottish people have, how can we play off that?”
Cautious in assessing the performance if not in the way he sent them out to play, Cotter was quick to play down the boost of the Argentina victory although admitting he was “quite proud” of his team.
“The players really enjoyed themselves, but they’re a humble bunch,” he said.
“They’re very pleased with the effort and the result, but we’re in no position to get carried away. The All Blacks beat England today and they’re the best team in the world.
“We’re looking at another opposition, and a very, very good one. We’ll take a very positive approach to the game against the All Blacks; we’ll prepare as best we can.”
Oddly for such a physical test match, Scotland escaped with only light bumps and bruises and the only doubt for New Zealand is reserve scrum-half Henry Pyrgos, who is undergoing concussion recovery protocols.
Young Edinburgh scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, who was involved in training last week when Chris Cusiter was sidelined, has been recalled to the squad.