Scotland will field a strong, experienced side for Saturday’s Nations Championship clash with New Zealand, with Sione Tuipulotu captaining a team featuring 10 Glasgow Warriors players and two more who have only just left.
Tuipulotu partners Huw Jones in the centre, with Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie on the wings and Kyle Rowe at full-back. Finn Russell, winning his 96th cap, continues his partnership with Ben White at half-back.
The pack has a strong Glasgow influence, with Scott Cummings and Gregor Brown combining in the second row. Brown reached 50 caps during the summer, while the back row sees Jack Dempsey joined by Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge.
Rory Sutherland starts at loosehead, alongside Zander Fagerson at tighthead and Ewan Ashman at hooker. Sutherland is another member of Scotland’s 50-cap club, having reached the milestone against South Africa earlier this year.
The bench includes five forwards: Gregor Hiddleston, Pierre Schoeman, Will Hurd, Max Williamson and Josh Bayliss. Schoeman has also passed the 50-cap mark.
George Horne, Tom Jordan and Blair Kinghorn complete the replacements, giving Townsend plenty of flexibility among the backs as Scotland look to secure a first-ever victory over the All Blacks.
Scotland record at home against New Zealand
Some names like Nathan McBeth and Darcy Graham miss out on selection, but not much about the selection is too surprising as Scotland aim to replicate the level of their performance against South Africa in the summer. Anything less is likely to see New Zealand’s epic win streak continue another year.
Scotland: Kyle Rowe, Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Jamie Dobie, Finn Russell, Ben White; Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Pierre Schoeman, Will Hurd, Max Williamson, Josh Baylish, George Horne, Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn.
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby, Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor (capt), Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland, Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi.
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Pasilio Tosi, Christian Lio-Willie, Anton Segner, Cortez Ratima, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Rieko Ioane.
1 response
Great side , a huge amount of flexible players in the 23. Almost all the backs have experience of other positions. Kyle Rowe starting and will not let us down. The mercurial Huw Jones is a big game player and I hope he has the game of his career. What a bench , Baylis is worthy of a start but he will lift the side when he comes on, probably the best back row in the Premiership IMO. Tom Jordan, just quality. Getting Picky , I get why he has picked Sutherland , lots of experience and good in the scrum with Shoey bringing impact, I just wonder if he has had enough game time this season, however that is really picky, his solidity will bring comfort. I could be naughty and say three scrum halfs in the 23 against the robust AB’s is a 1 too many, however on current form how could you leave any one of them out of this side. Well done Toony , what a great side.