Scotland have named a starting XV with 10 Glasgow Warriors players for their Nations Championship opener against New Zealand at Murrayfield. Head coach Gregor Townsend has made significant changes from the side that last played, with only prop Rory Sutherland surviving from the starting pack that beat Fiji in July.
Finn Russell earns his 96th cap for Scotland and his 100th international appearance bringing his vast experience to a backline that sees Kyle Rowe preferred to Blair Kinghorn at fullback. The midfield partnership of Huw Jones and captain Sione Tuipulotu is restored, while Ewan Ashman is the sole Edinburgh Rugby representative in the starting fifteen. Townsend's selection reflects a desire for a fast start, with Rowe's excellent performances against Argentina and South Africa last year earning him the nod.
New Zealand arrive in Edinburgh on the back of emphatic wins over Australia last month, where they retained the Bledisloe Cup despite a prior series defeat to South Africa. Their squad, coached by former Glasgow boss Dave Rennie, is packed with world-class talent like Beauden Barrett and Will Jordan. The last four meetings between the sides have been tight, with New Zealand winning 25-17 in last year's summer Test where Scotland fought back from 17-0 down only to fall short.
This match is Scotland's first of the season and comes after a mixed run of results in their recent fixtures. Their last outing was a 1-2 home defeat to Slovenia on 6 October, a result that leaves their form over the last four matches at one win, one draw and two losses. They will be keen to build some positive momentum at Murrayfield ahead of their next competitive fixture, a home match against FYR Macedonia on 13 November in the Nations Championship standings.
Townsend wants his side to be more consistent and clinical. "They're an iconic brand of world rugby, and especially playing them at Murrayfield, that's the most important thing for us," the Scotland boss said, emphasizing the need to focus on their own performance. The coach pointed to high standards set against France and Argentina last year that were not met against the world champions South Africa.
In the pack, Sutherland gets a start despite managing just 54 minutes for Glasgow this season, joining Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, and the back-row of Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey. Kinghorn provides cover for the back three and is the back-up fly-half on a bench that includes three-times capped Gregor Hiddleston. This is the 34th meeting between the nations and the first of four Tests for Scotland this month, with Australia and Japan also visiting Edinburgh. The team's immediate task is to handle the All Blacks' attacking threat, orchestrated by coach Mike Blair, and convert any periods of pressure into points.
Read the full report at Scotland Rugby News
