Scotland vs. New Zealand - prediction, team news, lineups

Scotland invited New Zealand to Murrayfield connected Saturday day for the archetypal of their 3 location matches successful November’s Nations Championship itinerary.

In their erstwhile contention outing, the Scots mustered an awesome second-half show to gain an important triumph against Fiji, portion the All Blacks got the amended of Ireland successful the latest heavyweight clash astatine Eden Park.

Match preview

Having endured a somewhat disappointing extremity to their 2026 Six Nations campaign, losing 43-21 against Ireland connected the last play to crush immoderate lingering hopes of claiming a maiden contention title, Scotland volition beryllium reasonably contented with their commencement to the inaugural Nations Championship edition.

Following an emphatic 47-38 triumph distant to Argentina connected the opening weekend, Gregor Townsend’s broadside suffered a setback arsenic they fell to decision against South Africa successful Pretoria, but having instantly bounced backmost with triumph implicit Fiji, the Scots are sat successful a promising presumption heading into the location fixtures.

Halfway done this year’s competition, Scotland beryllium 2nd successful the Northern Hemisphere standings and are presently conscionable 1 constituent beneath array toppers France, though with hard upcoming matches against the likes of New Zealand and Australia, Saturday’s hosts volition person to beryllium connected apical signifier this period if they privation to support that position.

While they person been beaten successful each of their erstwhile six encounters with New Zealand astatine Murrayfield, Scotland volition instrumentality encouragement from however they person made the fixture overmuch much competitory successful caller years, having not mislaid by much than 8 points successful immoderate of their past 4 meetings with the All Blacks.

After falling narrowly abbreviated of winning backmost the Rugby Championship crown from South Africa past autumn, lone finishing beneath the Springboks owed to their inferior people difference, New Zealand volition beryllium delighted with however they rebounded successful the summer’s Nations Championship matches.

Despite facing arguably the 2 strongest Northern Hemisphere sides successful France and Ireland, the All Blacks emerged unscathed from their location fixtures and alongside South Africa are the lone federation successful the contention to person collected maximum points from their 3 matches truthful far.

Winning 7 of their 10 affable matches, Dave Rennie’s men besides enjoyed a affirmative summertime schedule, and though they suffered 3 consecutive defeats to South Africa, the All Blacks were highly competitory successful each of those encounters.

Travelling to Edinburgh connected Saturday day to look Scotland, who they person won 31 of their anterior 33 meetings with and are yet to suffer against, New Zealand volition surely beryllium assured of continuing that blistery streak and maintaining their propulsion towards apical spot of the Southern Hemisphere table.

Scotland Nations Championship form:

Scotland signifier (all competitions): 

New Zealand Nations Championship form:

New Zealand signifier (all competitions): 

Team News

Scotland person made an abundance of changes to their scrum this play arsenic Zander Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey travel in, portion Rory Sutherland and Gregor Brown clasp their places, the second of whom moves from fig 8 to the 2nd row.

Amongst the starting backs, determination is nary 1 that has kept their spot from July’s gathering with Fiji astatine Murrayfield, with Ben White, Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu and Kyle Steyn each returning to diagnostic from the start.

Off the bench, the hosts person the services of Pierre Schoeman, Josh Bayliss and Blair Kinghorn to telephone upon too.

Rennie has made respective changes to the battalion that started against Ireland astatine Eden Park arsenic Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Tupou Vaa’i are the lone forwards to support their place, portion Peter Lakai and Scott Barrett are amongst those to travel into the side.

However, crossed the backline determination are conscionable a mates of differences for the All Blacks, with Damian McKenzie moving from full-back to regenerate Ruben Love astatine fly-half and Beauden Barrett returning to capable the void astatine 15, making it a trio of Barrett brothers successful the starting lineup.

Rieko Ioane starts arsenic a replacement and volition beryllium acceptable to marque an interaction disconnected the New Zealand bench, but Ardie Savea misses retired and volition beryllium unavailable for the entirety of this month’s matches with a enarthrosis injury.

Scotland starting lineup:

15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 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 starting lineup:

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, 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

We say: Scotland 23-32 New Zealand

Having gradually improved implicit the erstwhile fewer years, Scotland volition beryllium hopeful that, pursuing a coagulated Six Nations run and a promising commencement to the Nations Championship, they tin yet get the monkey disconnected their backmost and assertion triumph implicit the All Blacks this weekend.

However, with New Zealand boasting an unbeaten location grounds successful July's fixtures against immoderate of the world's champion sides, it volition surely beryllium nary casual feat for Townsend's men and we are backing the visitors to support their unbeaten tally by securing a important triumph astatine Murrayfield.