SCOTLAND missed a trick by selecting a weakened team to play New Zealand, and they deserve to be beaten by 80 points or more. There is a tradition of matches between these countries going back to the mists of time and I hate it that they have picked a second-string side just because they have their eyes on their decisive pool match against Italy.

Scotland should have taken the view that they needed a strong run-out to prepare themselves for Italy, and they should have had the confidence to do it. If I were one of the players left out, such as back-rower Simon Taylor, I’d be sticking my hand up to say, “Pick me.”

If Scotland had chosen their first-string pack, which is a real heavyweight outfit, they could have rattled New Zealand, who have lineout problems.

Reuben Thorne is no international lock, and with the All Blacks showing their hand by picking a lightweight, mobile pack, the Scots should have fancied their chances of giving the New Zealand lineout a pasting.

Like South Africa, Scotland could have picked a lineout with five potential jumpers: Taylor, Nathan Hines, Jim Hamilton, Jason White and Allister Hogg – but instead they have opted to field their reserves up front.

Their back line is also understrength, with promising scrum-half Mike Blair rested alongside the Lamont brothers, Sean and Rory – both are good finishers – and Rob Dewey, a big unit who can truck it up.

New Zealand will breathe a huge sigh of relief, not least Ali Williams, who would not have fancied being double-teamed by two big men such as Hines and Hamilton.

Without lineout domination, Scotland will lack a platform, and New Zealand will hunt them mercilessly at the breakdown. What sets the All Blacks apart is their workrate off the ball, sustained by a high level of fitness. It means they almost always get quick ball when they are attacking, and when the opposition have the ball, they just pound them. Expect New Zealand to keep the ball alive as much as possible and to avoid kicking it into touch.

The crux of this game will be pace – and the northern hemisphere game is way off the pace compared with its southern counterpart, in virtually all respects. Every player in the New Zealand pack is comfortable if he has to fill in at scrum-half at the base of the ruck, because the skill level is so high. By comparison, a northern-hemisphere forward would probably throw a pass along the ground.

My reservation is that if New Zealand get away with having such a weak lineout against Scotland, they might make the mistake of thinking they can do the same against France or South Africa. My feeling is that it will not work twice, and they desperately need Keith Robinson to get fit, because in a World Cup you need three front-line locks.

It is a travesty that this game will not be played in front of a full house at Murrayfield, yet if it had been played in France, more people would have turned up. New Zealanders already in France are not prepared to travel again at greater expense.

The fact that a match such as this is being played away from the host country is poor organisation and a legacy of the awful horse-trading at International Rugby Board level by national unions. Why should the Scots and the Welsh get home advantage in a French World Cup because they sold their votes?

Everybody is talking about South Africa, but New Zealand will have to watch out for Australia, the quiet achievers who have the best World Cup record. I was impressed with their game against Wales, and cannot see Fiji giving them too much trouble.

They have developed a forward pack that can compete, and there has been a significant improvement in their scrum. Matt Dunning and Guy Shepherdson are more solid than they were, and it means their back line is getting on to the front foot more often. They have good runners everywhere, and Stirling Mortlock is the best No 13 in the world.

I rate Nathan Sharpe as one of the best locks around. Their back row is well balanced, with Rocky Elsom, Wycliff Palu and George Smith capable of winning plenty of good ball and giving the team momentum. Smith, at openside, is not far behind Richie McCaw, which is some compliment. They look full of confidence and are unlikely to be far away when it gets down to the nitty-gritty.

Sean Fitzpatrick won 92 caps for New Zealand between 1986 and 1997