Scotland team named to face All Blacks

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 18: Rory Hutchinson celebrates after scoring Scotland’s second try with Kyle Steyn during a Skyscanner Pacific Tour match between Samoa and Scotland at Eden Park, on July 18, 2025, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Brett Phibbs / SNS Group)

Edinburgh Rugby tighthead prop 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.

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 full-back.

Northampton Saints’ 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 half-back partnership  following a successful tour to Australia in the summer. The fly-half/scrum-half combination started all matches during the 2025 Guinness 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.

Jack Dempsey, one of four starting players retained from the USA win, continues at number 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 team to face All Blacks in the Quilter Nations Series at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday 8 November, kick-off 3.10pm – live on TNT Sports (caps in brackets):

15. Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (60)
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (48)
13. Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (9)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (30) – Captain
11. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (25)

10. Finn Russell – Bath Rugby (87) – Vice-captain
9. Ben White – Toulon (29)

1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (42)
2. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (29)
3. D’Arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
4. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (43)
5. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (82) – Vice-captain
6. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (10)
7. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (57)
8. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (27)

Replacements

16. George Turner – Harlequins (47)
17. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (44)
18. Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (9)
19. Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (5)
20. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (32)
21. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (11)
22. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (15)
23. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (9)