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Scotland boss drops key figure for All Black showdown

TEAM ANNOUNCEMNT: Scotland’s joint-leading try scorer Duhan van der Merwe had been omitted from the team’s clash with the All Blacks this weekend at  Murrayfield.

Gregor Townsend has opted for Kyle Steyn out wide instead of the two-time British & Irish Lion, who has effectively been a vital cog in the Scotland XV since making his debut in 2020.

Steyn comes into the line-up on the left wing, with joint-record top try scorer Darcy Graham on the other – fresh from reaching 34 international tries last weekend – and Blair Kinghorn at fullback.

Northampton Saints’ Rory Hutchinson comes into the midfield and will partner captain Sione Tuipulotu in the centre.

British & Irish Lions duo Finn Russell and Ben White will resume their halfback partnership following a successful tour to Australia in July. The flyhalf/scrumhalf combination started all matches during the 2025 Six Nations.

Fellow Lion Scott Cummings will face the All Blacks for the first time and partners Grant Gilchrist, who featured in the previous two such contests, in the second row.

Edinburgh Rugby tighthead prop D’Arcy Rae started in the 85-0 victory over USA last weekend and will pack down in the front row alongside clubmates Ewan Ashman (hooker) and Pierre Schoeman at loosehead.

Jack Dempsey, one of four starting players retained from the USA win, continues at No.8 and completes an all-Glasgow Warriors back-row alongside Matt Fagerson, named at openside flanker, and Gregor Brown at blindside.

Rory Sutherland and Elliot Millar Mills provide cover at prop from the bench with Zander Fagerson missing out through injury.

Replacement hooker George Turner will aim for his first Scotland appearance at Murrayfield since February 2024 during a victory over England.

Marshall Sykes is selected along with Josh Bayliss and Rory Darge to complete the six forwards opted for by head coach Gregor Townsend on the bench.

Hat-trick hero from the USA match, Jamie Dobie, forms a 6-2 split alongside Tom Jordan to round off the matchday 23.

Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben While, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Matt Fagerson, 6 Gregor Brown, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Rory Darge, 21 Josh Bayliss, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Tom Jordan.

Date: Saturday, November 8
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 15.10 (15.10 GMT; 04.10 Sunday, November 9 NZT)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (France) & Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South AFrica)

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