All Blacks dedicate seven-try win over Scotland to late security chief Logan Cadwallader

New Zealand defeated Scotland at Murrayfield in an emotionally charged Test, scoring seven tries to three, and dedicated the victory to Logan Cadwallader, the All Blacks’ head of security for ten years who passed away last Sunday after suffering a medical event at the team’s hotel.

Cadwallader’s son and brother joined the squad as flag bearers during the national anthems, and in an unplanned show of unity, the 13 squad members not selected for the matchday 23 stepped onto the sideline to perform the haka alongside the starting group — a gesture that visibly moved players and management alike.

Captain Codie Taylor spoke directly about the weight the squad carried into the match. “We wanted to win for him,” he told reporters. “This week’s been a lot bigger than rugby. It’s about acknowledging one of our brothers that has fallen: a husband, a father, a son, who was highly respected in our group. There was definitely a bit more of a motivation there to front up and represent the jersey and represent him.”

Lock Tupou Vaa’i described Cadwallader, who held the role for a decade, as the team’s “unsung hero”. “For all of us to do that for Caddy shows how important he was to us as a group. We love Caddy so much, it was awesome for us to do that for him.”

Beauden Barrett admitted it “took days to even contemplate wanting to play a game of rugby”, but said the squad were encouraged to ride the emotional waves and refocus by the end of the week. The fullback drew on Cadwallader’s military background, framing the Test as a mission to be completed regardless of the grief involved. Barrett scored two tries on the night and equalled Richie McCaw’s record for the second-most Test appearances in All Blacks history.

Taylor explained that the sideline haka was an organic decision by the reserves. “I wasn’t actually aware at the time, but everyone wanted to pull the jersey on tonight. Obviously that can’t happen, so their thinking was: ‘we want to be a part of the haka because we can actually pay our respects that way.’ It just goes to show the connection of the group and how much Loges meant to us.”

The Test itself was scrappy in the first half, but New Zealand tightened their discipline after the break to pull clear and secure a comfortable margin — a result the squad will remember less for the scoreline than for what it meant off the pitch.