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.
22 responses
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.
this game has had so many disappointments over the years – we’ve had a few near misses but can we finally show that belief when it really matters. Surely one day it will happen
The starting 15 looks really strong, with a quality bench in place to provide support and give a bit of energy in the closing stages. I’d maybe have gone with Schoeman over Suds to start, but that might be a deliberate choice to bring Schoeman’s dynamic ball carrying into the game later on.
It’s weird being a Scotland fan right now. There are no crazy picks and we – pretty much – have good depth in every position. Nobody that gets picked will let us down in terms of quality, although discipline is a different story. It’s just whether we manage to put it altogether on the day.
Thought Dempsey’s interview was good, when he talked about Scotland being the best and worst team in the world for 20 minute spells within games. We really need to flatten that curve and deliver a more even performance. Keep the intensity high and avoid those crucial dips where we seem to ship points.
NZ maybe a bit more battle hardened as a result of recent tests, but this is an experienced Scotland group that has played together often. No excuses. We CAN do it, now its up to the players to show if we WILL do it.
The referee was not to blame for the loss.What about the mistakes made by our players e.g Finn Russell
What has Sutherland done to be selected before Schoeman, I understand the impact theory but the game could be gone before the “impact” subs get on. Likewise Bayliss, on current form, is surely due a start before Fagerson who hasn’t exactly set the heather on fire this season. Williamson is also unlucky to miss out. It’s a good team but I always feel Townsend never picks the strongest team based on current form, he can’t see past some of his favourites.
This is a good team, maybe a very good team. Let’s hope so as All Bkacks have some monstrous talent, pace, and size in there. I fear for the line out a bit.
We’ll need our most aggressive and accurate performance, and tbh we’re doing it at club level – so come on boys step up and take this by 20.
thought we were completely outplayed today, particularly in 2nd half. They were just more clinical and less error prone.
Out played our out reffed? Matt Fagerson margin crosses in a line out, doesn’t affect the outcome, penalty NZ. Scott Barrett thrown completely across the line out to win the ball, play on.
Jordie Barrett head contact would have been a 20min red with any other ref (should have been straight red).
First half try when they broke off the ruck they formed a new ruck so were trick and trailer and try should have been disallowed.
De Groot’s try, no clear grounding on the replays.
Only Scotland seemed to be called for sealing off at the ruck, NZ did it all match. Plus in from the side wasn’t reffed at all.
Brace is poor and needs to be stood down.
I thought it was just me, there did seem a few inconsistencies, I will give you that. Sione looked uncharacteristically frustrated, however not sure it was with the ref. There were also a few tackles round the neck IMO on both sides but noticably more on theirs. Did it really affect the outcome ?
Hewipulotu still look class. While we did some things right, NZ played like a side with conviction. The history weighs heavy on both sides. No All Black would be welcomed at home if they were the first team to lose. It is getting harder for us.
While I don’t think it changed the outcome of the match, I do think inconsistent refereeing did change the margin of victory. The lineout offences were particularly frustrating, with Scotland punished for the same thing that NZ were let off with.
This isn’t a sour grapes comment, more just expressing frustration with the way that eccentric refereeing can cast a shadow over a test match. We were on the wrong side this time, it’ll be someone else next week. But I think Brace is particularly prone to poor performances.
Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Scrum minced, white and Russell awful, discipline diabolical, handling errors everywhere. NZ just cruised as long waiting for us to screw up and then they scored. Dreadful stuff
All said and done, this team is close to our best pick but needs a few tweaks. Imo Darcy starts, he just has more attacking flair, Dobie is a good bench option can cover scrum half and wing and his defence is great Horne didn’t add much. Duhan may deserve a run against Australia, if only to keep Steyne on his toes. Biggest issue is when our front row get tired – Ashman could have played 80 i think, but Fagerson and Schoe were knackered – we need replacements that offer same or more intensity in the pack , the current drop off in intensity and accuracy is 20 points in second half.
With Dobie and either Jordan or Kinghorn on bench we’ve cover at fullback and 10, so 6:2 split an attractive option.
Happy to jump on a call Gregor :)
We just can’t turn the screw on teams like NZ and Ireland at crucial times like they do to us when someone gets carded. We can give France a good go but not Ireland, NZ or SA who France can compete with. Styles make fights I guess but some teams just have our number and GT hasn’t found a way to break those ceilings.
I’d rather see Dobie start at nine and put his flare at his usual position, and Duhan the record try scorer back in at eleven he keeps the opposite defense busy. Give the inform Edinburgh back row a shot too . Harry Paterson is looking on fire right now. Bayliss looked very effective. Lesson learned yesterday it’s tough at the top as they say .
You may be right but I am wondering if the backrow were really the problem yesterday ! Darge performed well ( according to the commentators: They felt he could be Scotland’s contender for MOM ) and Dempsey has played in a side that beat the AB’s. I do not think the selection was wrong . The Scum imploding was the major problem for me. Worsened when Schoey came on initially. Did not look anything like the scrum that neutralised the Pumas and Springbok in the summer.
Hey Broon , I wasn’t suggesting that selection was the problem in any position. I think it would be a good policy to rotate certain positions as the strength in depth we now have we should be rotating for players experience sake . The six nations is on the horizon and then we’re looking forward to the world cup. I want to see as many of the wider squad ‘blooded’ and readt for that. I’m sure Darcy is out with an injury just now, but I’d like to see our two record try scorers on the wings and see Kyle Steyn start at fullback. Dobie at 9 Liam McConnell, Freddie Douglas, Bayliss or Bradbury one start one bench. It’ll keep everyone on there toes and fresh.
Team for Australia …..?
1. Schoeman
2. Ashman
3. Z. Fagerson
4. G. Brown
5. Cummings
6. Ritchie
7. Darge
8. Dempsey
9. White
10. Russell
11. van der Merwe
12. Tuipulotu
13. Jones
14. Graham
15. Rowe
16. Hiddleston
17. Sutherland
18. Hurd
19. Williamson
20. Bayliss
21. Fagerson
22. Dobie
23. Kinghorn
Ritchie withdrew from the squad injured, Bayliss should be starting at 6. Gregor Brown can play second row but it’s not his natural position, Williamson has been playing well for Glasgow & adds more height & bulk than Brown. Finally I wouldn’t drop Steyn, he’s been outstanding recently & VDM hasn’t.
Pretty much agree with this and Steyn is an excellent player and as I recall dealt with the high ball well. He should start on the wing and I would not support playing him at Full Back as per an earlier post. He is a wing and has performed consistently last and this season.
I would bring Staff Mcd in as a kick option for a kicking game we dont have but need.
Watched the game back and I really do think that lack of sharpness really hampered us. NZ were really battle-hardened after the series with the Springboks, while we looked indecisive and error-strewn – just like a team that hasn’t been together for a few months. I know I said earlier that shouldn’t be an excuse, but it really mattered on the day – with the AB’s combining skill and clinical execution.
A lot of extreme criticism of Russell in this one – much of it undeserved. He didn’t have the best day in finding touch, and had a couple of loose touches, but without his disguised passing I’m not sure we were ever breaking the gainline. I like TJ a lot, but he made no impact when coming on. Expectations are high, but there’s no need to overreact.
In terms of changes for Australia. Given our issues in the scrum, I’d maybe opt for a bit more size in the boiler room, with Brown moving to 6. Happy with either Dempsey or Bayless at 8, with either Darge or Douglas at 7. Would like to see Graham come back in on the wing, with Dobie maybe moving to scrum half. Obviously not White’s best day at the office against NZ, and would like to see Dobie get a run in his favoured position – with Horne closing. Not desperate to see Kinghorn return, but also not against giving him at run at 15.
It is great to have so many choices in numerous positions. We just need to start getting the results to re-enforce the positive belief. The All Blacks were at their most ruthless .