Friday November 6th 2026
2025 Scotland v All blacks, Scottish Gas Murrayfield
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Jack Lewis-Biddick
This Saturday Scotland face the All Blacks in what will be their biggest game this season. The Scotland side, led by Sione Tuipulotu, will be looking to make history by ending a 33-match winless streak which has lasted 121 years against the All Blacks.
Last time the All Blacks came to Murrayfield, they squeaked out a win 25-17 thanks to some Damian McKenzie brilliance in the final minutes.
In an interview, Scotland flanker Rory Darge spoke about last year’s game: “It was different because I was on the bench and, with being an openside, typically you’re either starting or not involved, so I’ve not had many bench appearances, so it was a different experience. There’s a lot of build-up to these games because of the team that they are, and it was my first game back from injury, so it was a big week emotionally.”
“And yeah, the game was a bit unusual, although these momentum swings are becoming more common in rugby. Teams are scoring more points, which means momentum is easier to shift; being 14 or 21 points up is not the same as it was when previously you could see out a game.”
Rory Darge will be starting for the first time against the All Blacks this weekend, along with some other interesting selections for Gregor Townsend’s side, including leaving Darcy Graham out of the squad entirely in place of Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie. He has also dropped Toulouse superstar Blair Kinghorn to the bench in favour of Glasgow’s Kyle Rowe.
The changes on the wings look to be based on form. However, Townsend has most likely picked them to combat the high ball, which has been a weakness for the All Blacks, as Darcy Graham, standing at only five foot ten, has never been the strongest in that department.
As for Blair Kinghorn, his commitments to Toulouse would have maybe ruled him out for selection, as he may have missed some training sessions with the team.
More predictable selections have been made, with Scottish talisman Finn Russell starting at ten, with Ben White backing him up at scrum-half. If the forwards can get clean and fast ruck ball, this duo will be absolutely deadly for Scotland and could create holes in the All Blacks’ defence.
A usual centre pairing of Huw Jones (outside centre) and Sione Tuipulotu (captain, inside centre) was picked, with them both having played together on the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour.
Sione will bring power in the midfield carry while also bringing a world-class distribution game, meanwhile Huw will bring that devastating running ability that could slice through any defence.
Now to the forwards, and Gregor has selected a back row of Matt Fagerson (blindside flanker), Rory Darge (openside flanker) and Jack Dempsey (number eight).
Fagerson and Dempsey bring the physical ball-carrying and hard tackling, while Darge brings the ability to win turnovers and pick up scraps.
Height, however, could be an issue, as no Scottish starting back-rower is over six foot four inches. To take advantage of this, the All Blacks are playing Tupou Vaa’i at blindside flanker.
With Vaa’i being six foot six inches tall and having two tall locks in Scott Barrett and Fabian Holland, this creates three lineout options in defence and attack. However, this will only trouble Scotland if the All Blacks can get their lineout up to speed, as they have had a lot of inaccuracies so far this year.
Unfortunately, Scotland are outclassed in the locks, with Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings starting. The All Blacks have picked World Breakthrough Player of the Year (2025) Fabian Holland and former All Blacks captain Scott Barrett.
Gregor Brown will be looking to make the jersey his, while Scott Cummings will be wanting to keep up his good form.
In the front row, Scotland have gone for Rory Sutherland at loosehead prop, Zander Fagerson on the other side of the scrum at tighthead prop, and hooker Ewan Ashman. Scotland might try to target the All Blacks’ scrum, with experienced prop Pierre Schoeman coming off the bench to add extra impact.
Gregor Townsend hopes that impact players like Schoeman, Kinghorn and Bayliss can come on and make an impact on the game while leading other inexperienced players off the bench.
Scotland will play New Zealand in the Nations Championship at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday, 7 November 2026, live on ITV Sport, with kick-off at 2.10 pm.
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