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Finn Russell straight back in at 10 as Scotland name team for NZ
Finn Russell will start for Scotland at flyhalf against the All Blacks despite being initially omitted from Gregor Townsend’s original Autumn Nation Series squad.
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Russell was recalled to the squad following an injury to Adam Hastings against Fiji and has been thrown back in at the depend by head coach Townsend. The Racing 92 man is preferred to Blair Kinghorn, who has to make do with a place on the bench.
Scotland are bidding to topple the All Blacks for the first time in their history.
Russell is joined by hooker Fraser Brown and centre Sione Tuipulotu, who also come into the starting XV. The team features seven Scotland players who were involved in a narrow home loss to the All Blacks back in 2017, the last time the two sides played.
The back three from last weekend’s 28-12 win over Fiji are retained with Stuart Hogg at 15 and Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe on the wings respectively.
British & Irish Lions centre Chris Harris is chosen in the centre, while the pack boasts a tonne of experience in the likes of Richie Gray, captain Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Zander and Matt Fagerson and Grant Gilchrist.
Rory Sutherland is named on the bench, as is South African-born tighthead prop WP Nel. Nel will win his 50th cap for Scotland if he gets the call to come on. There’s also plenty of other fire power to draw on, with Jonny Gray and Jack Dempsey also ready to be sprung into the battle.
SCOTLAND TEAM VS NEW ZEALAND:
15. Stuart Hogg
14. Darcy Graham
13. Chris Harris
12. Sione Tuipulotu
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell
9. Ali Price
1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Fraser Brown
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Richie Gray
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Hamish Watson
8. Matt Fagerson
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REPLACEMENTS:
16. Ewan Ashman
17. Rory Sutherland
18. WP Nel
19. Jonny Gray
20. Jack Dempsey
21. Ben White
22. Blair Kinghorn
23. Mark Bennett
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
41 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
41 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
41 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
41 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
41 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
41 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
41 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
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