Scotland face New Zealand on Saturday at Murrayfield (2.10pm kick-off), seeking a first ever win over the All Blacks; Centres Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu, and fly-half Finn Russell return to start; Scotland also face Australia (Nov 15) and Japan (Nov 21) this month
Gregor Townsend has welcomed back Huw Jones, Finn Russell and Sione Tuipulotu as Scotland seek a first-ever victory over New Zealand in Saturday's Nations Championship.
Scotland's winless record against the All Blacks stands at 33 Tests, but a strong selection gives them hope ahead of the weekend's contest at Murrayfield (2.10pm kick-off).
The backline sees a Jones-Tuipulotu British and Irish Lions centre partnership restored, with Russell guiding the side from fly-half. The latter is partnered by another Lion in scrum-half Ben White.
Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie start on the wings, with Kyle Rowe at full-back, leaving Blair Kinghorn on the bench as a replacement.
The return of Huwipulotu! Here is your Scotland team taking on the All Blacks this weekend 🏴🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/VwHG1beXyr
In the forwards, Rory Sutherland starts ahead of Pierre Schoeman at loosehead prop, with hooker Ewan Ashman and tighthead Zander Fagerson completing the front-row.
Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings start in the second-row, while the back-row is made up of Matt Fagerson at blindside flanker, Rory Darge at openside flanker and Jack Dempsey at No 8.
For the All Blacks, they have made two changes to their starting lineup for Saturday's Nations Championship clash vs Scotland after a rampant performance in the Bledisloe Cup against Australia last month.
Ethan de Groot is restored to the front-row at loosehead in place of George Bower, while Jordie Barrett returns from injury at centre in place of Timoci Tavatavanawai.
Bower and Tavatavanawai are named among the replacements, where there are three other changes from the 43-21 win over Australia in Sydney on October 17.
𝐊𝐚𝐩𝐚 𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐨 🖤🌿 Kapa O Pango was created specifically for the All Blacks, first performed in 2005 ahead of a Tri Nations Test against South Africa at Carisbrook in Dunedin. It was introduced as a new haka to sit alongside Ka Mate, reflecting the team’s evolving… pic.twitter.com/EG2PPUG2bq
Asafo Aumua is chosen ahead of the injured Samisoni Taukei'aho as hooker replacement, while Christian Lio-Willie replaces Shannon Frizell, who is also injured, and Anton Segner is preferred to Duplessis Kirifi, who was not chosen for the month-long trip.
Scotland: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White; 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Gregor Brown, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 George Horne, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Blair Kinghorn.
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cam Roigard; 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 4 Scott Barrett, 5 Fabian Holland, 6 Tupou Vaa'i, 7 Peter Lakai, 8 Wallace Sititi.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 George Bower, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Christian Lio-Willie, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Rieko Ioane.
Friday November 6 Ireland vs Argentina (8.10pm)
Saturday November 7 Italy vs South Africa (11.40am) Scotland vs New Zealand (2.10pm) Wales vs Japan (4.40pm) France vs Fiji (8.10pm)
Sunday November 8 England vs Australia (3.10pm)
Friday November 13 France vs South Africa (8.10pm)
Saturday November 14 Italy vs Argentina (11.40am) Wales vs New Zealand (2.10pm) England vs Japan (4.40pm) Ireland vs Fiji (8.10pm)
Sunday November 15 Scotland vs Australia (3.10pm)
Saturday November 21 England vs New Zealand (2.10pm) Scotland vs Japan (2.10pm) Ireland vs South Africa (4.40pm) Italy vs Fiji (4.40pm) France vs Argentina (8.10pm) Wales vs Australia (8.10pm)
November 27 Sixth-place North vs Sixth-place South, Third-place North vs Third-place South
November 28 Fifth-place North vs Fifth-place South, Second-place North vs Second-place South
November 29 Fourth-place North vs Fourth-place South, First-place North vs First-place South
July 4 New Zealand 34-32 France Japan 27-10 Italy South Africa 45-21 England Australia 31-33 Ireland Fiji 24-39 Wales Argentina 38-47 Scotland
July 11 New Zealand 47-17 Italy Japan 20-36 Ireland South Africa 42-28 Scotland Australia 26-42 France Fiji 8-73 England Argentina 35-21 Wales
July 18 Japan 15-42 France Australia 57-10 Italy South Africa 43-0 Wales New Zealand 40-21 Ireland Fiji 17-33 Scotland Argentina 24-31 England
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Source: Sports
