Tries from Ewan Ashman and Kyle Steyn hauled Scotland again into an absorbing contest.
Darcy Graham and Rory Hutchinson had been held up over the road within the first half when Cameron Roigard and Will Jordan scored for the guests.
“Groups get drained whenever you knock on the door,” stated Townsend, who has now misplaced three dwelling Exams in opposition to the All Blacks as head coach – all by single digit margins.
“I might like to be taking part in New Zealand once more subsequent week. We play Argentina and we have to put in what we’ve got realized.
“That is the primary time this staff has performed collectively because the Six Nations. To get that cohesion right away is troublesome and to see it develop in the course of the sport is encouraging.
“However it’s so irritating with that effort that we did not get a win.
“It is the closest we have come to successful, I consider. We dominated the second half, territory, stress, talent. We have not achieved that in opposition to New Zealand in our historical past and we’re higher for the expertise.
“Our journey does not cease as we speak. We’ve got a really massive sport subsequent week and larger video games to come back within the Six Nations.”
Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu described the loss as “bittersweet” and careworn the significance of a win in opposition to Argentina, having opened the autumn collection with a file rating in opposition to the US.
“I advised the boys we would have liked a response at half time,” he stated. “Both we lie down or select to go for it.
“We had nothing to lose and all the pieces to realize.
“We’ve got to bounce again for subsequent week as a result of Argentina aren’t going to make it any simpler.”
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