Scotland's Russell and Tuipulotu return to face All Blacks

Published5 November 2026, 13:43 GMT

Gregor Townsend believes Scotland are up against a New Zealand team "playing much more ambitious rugby" on Saturday.

Captain and centre Sione Tuipulotu and fly-half Finn Russell return to the starting XV as the Scots attempt to beat the All Blacks for the first time in what will be their 34th meeting.

"They're playing some excellent rugby right now and it's our first game of the season, which is always the toughest challenge for us too," head coach Townsend said.

"It's great we now get this opportunity to play New Zealand again. It's a different New Zealand team.

"It's a team that is playing much more ambitious rugby. They're informed, they're cohesive. They played a lot of Test matches over the summer.

"So it might not be the same game that transpires. We're going to have to find ways to win, find ways to stay in the fight because they'll have a lot of possession too."

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Neither Russell nor Tuipulotu started in the Scots' last match against Fiji back in July, with Townsend also restoring Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Ben White and Jamie Dobie in the backs, the latter and Tuipulotu having come off the bench against Fiji.

Rory Sutherland is the only starting forward to survive since that 33-17 victory, with Ewan Ashman, Zander and Matt Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Jack Dempsey and vice-captain Rory Darge all coming in.

The bench is made up of similarly experienced players, other than three-times capped Gregor Hiddleston.

Saturday's Test is the first of four this month for Scotland, with Australia and Japan also visiting Edinburgh and another opponent to be confirmed on finals weekend.

Saturday brings together two former Glasgow Warriors head coaches with Townsend's successor Dave Rennie in charge of the All Blacks.

Rennie, who has selected centurions Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor in his XV, believes New Zealand "play a pretty similar type of game" to the Scots.

"Obviously, I know a fair bit about their coaches and about the players," said the former Australia coach. "They've been excellent at Murrayfield.

"The last four games between the All Blacks and Scotland have been really tight. Last year the boys were able to pull it out of the fire [for a 25-17 win], so we're well aware of the quality of the side and the performance required to beat them on the weekend."

Former Scotland scrum-half Mike Blair is part of Rennie's coaching team.

And Rennie said of the former Edinburgh and Glasgow player: "He's got a great understanding. His ability to micro-skill things from a decision-making perspective and he's really innovative around how he delivers that, whether it's at a meeting or on the grass.

"He's been excellent. He made a really big impression with the boys as well. You're seeing evidence of that on the park.

"He's been great. Very happy to have him in our camp."

Line-ups

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.

Related topics

Rugby Union

Scottish Rugby

Scotland Rugby Union