Thursday November 5th 2026
Sione Tuipulotu making a pass
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Jack Lewis-Biddick
An experienced Scotland squad, led by Sione Tuipulotu as one of 10 starting Glasgow Warriors players, has been selected by Head Coach Gregor Townsend for this Saturday’s Nations Championship match against New Zealand at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
Tuipulotu, who is bidding to lead Scotland to a first-ever victory against the All Blacks, takes his place in a back division laced with familiarity, with Huw Jones joining him in the centre.
Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie line up on the right and left wings, respectively, with fellow Scotstoun man Kyle Rowe getting the nod at full-back.
Finn Russell is the most experienced player in the national squad as the stand-off prepares for a 96th Scotland cap and for the seventh time this calendar year, he will be partnered by Ben White at scrum-half.
In the pack, an all-Warriors loose five sees Scott Cummings and Gregor Brown link up in the second row, the latter having won a 50th cap during against Argentina in the summer fixtures of this current competition.
The back row selection is also one of familiarity, with Jack Dempsey anchoring the scrum, as Matt Fagerson lines up on the blindside flank with Rory Darge on the openside.
Up front, Rory Sutherland – who reached his own half century of caps against South Africa earlier this year – gets the nod to start at loosehead prop, with Zander Fagerson at tighthead and Ewan Ashman selected at hooker.
Fellow hooker Gregor Hiddleston is named as one of five forward replacements, alongside props Pierre Schoeman – another now in the 50-cap club – and Will Hurd, second row Max Williamson and Josh Bayliss, who will cover the back row.
The matchday 23 is completed by a trio of backs as George Horne (scrum-half) joins the versatile pair of Tom Jordan and Blair Kinghorn in rounding off the squad to face the All Blacks.
Scotland team to play New Zealand in the Nations Championship at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Saturday 7 November 2026, live on ITV Sport, kick-off 2.10pm; caps in brackets:
15. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (19)
14. Kyle Steyn – Vice-Captain Glasgow Warriors (35)
13. Huw Jones – Toulon (63)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Captain – Glasgow Warriors (41)
11. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (22)
10. Finn Russell – Bath Rugby (95)
9. Ben White – Toulon (38)
1. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (51)
2. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (37)
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (84)
4. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (19)
5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (52)
6. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (66)
7. Rory Darge – Vice-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (41)
8. Jack Dempsey – Toshiba Brave Lupus (35)
Replacements
16. Gregor Hiddleston – Glasgow Warriors (3)
17. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (52)
18. Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (11)
19. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (15)
20. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (18)
21. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (47)
22. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (20)
23. Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (68)
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