Nations Championship: Huw Jones, Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu start in Scotland quest for first-ever win vs New Zealand's All Blacks
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.
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.
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 6Ireland vs Argentina (8.10pm)
Saturday November 7Italy vs South Africa (11.40am)Scotland vs New Zealand (2.10pm)Wales vs Japan (4.40pm)France vs Fiji (8.10pm)
Sunday November 8England vs Australia (3.10pm)
Friday November 13France vs South Africa (8.10pm)
Saturday November 14Italy vs Argentina (11.40am)Wales vs New Zealand (2.10pm)England vs Japan (4.40pm)Ireland vs Fiji (8.10pm)
Sunday November 15Scotland vs Australia (3.10pm)
Saturday November 21England 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)
Finals Weekend (Twickenham)
November 27Sixth-place North vs Sixth-place South, Third-place North vs Third-place South
November 28Fifth-place North vs Fifth-place South, Second-place North vs Second-place South
November 29Fourth-place North vs Fourth-place South, First-place North vs First-place South
July 4New Zealand 34-32 FranceJapan 27-10 ItalySouth Africa 45-21 EnglandAustralia 31-33 IrelandFiji 24-39 WalesArgentina 38-47 Scotland
July 11New Zealand 47-17 ItalyJapan 20-36 IrelandSouth Africa 42-28 ScotlandAustralia 26-42 FranceFiji 8-73 EnglandArgentina 35-21 Wales
July 18Japan 15-42 FranceAustralia 57-10 ItalySouth Africa 43-0 WalesNew Zealand 40-21 IrelandFiji 17-33 ScotlandArgentina 24-31 England
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5 of November 2026
