Scotland vs New Zealand Rugby Union Preview Predictions Team Updates and Betting Tips
Scotland will face New Zealand on Saturday, November 8, at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, kicking off at 3:10 PM. This match marks an important event for the Scottish team as they seek their first victory against the All Blacks in 120 years. The game is part of the Autumn International series and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1.
Match Preview
Scotland is coming off a dominating 85-0 win against the USA but will experiment with several lineup changes. Head coach Gregor Townsend has opted for Kyle Steyn over joint record try scorer Duhan van der Merwe. This tactical move comes after van der Merwe’s impressive performance last week, scoring twice against the USA.
On the other hand, New Zealand comes into the match after a 26-13 victory over Ireland. However, they will be missing key players, including captain Scott Barrett and his brother Jordie Barrett, both sidelined due to injuries sustained during the previous game.
Key Player Insights
- D’Arcy Rae will start at tighthead prop for Scotland due to Zander Fagerson’s unavailability.
- Darcy Graham has the opportunity to set a new record for Scotland with a potential 35th career try.
- Will Jordan is a notable player for New Zealand, having scored 43 tries in just 51 caps.
Team News and Predicted Line-ups
Scotland Line-up
- 15 B Kinghorn
- 14 D Graham
- 13 R Hutchinson
- 12 S Tuipulotu (capt)
- 11 K Steyn
- 10 F Russell
- 9 B White
- 1 P Schoeman
- 2 E Ashman
- 3 D Rae
- 4 G Gilchrist
- 5 S Cummings
- 6 G Brown
- 7 M Fagerson
- 8 J Dempsey
New Zealand Line-up
- 15 W Jordan
- 14 L Carter
- 13 L Fainga’anuku
- 12 Q Tupaea
- 11 C Clarke
- 10 B Barrett
- 9 C Roigard
- 1 E Groot
- 2 C Taylor
- 3 F Newell
- 4 J Lord
- 5 F Holland
- 6 W Sititi
- 7 J Savea (capt)
- 8 P Lakai
Betting Odds
The betting odds for the match are as follows:
| Match Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Scotland | 13-5 |
| New Zealand | 3-10 |
| Draw | 25-1 |
Key Statistics
- Scotland has never defeated New Zealand in 120 years.
- The Scots have won five of their last six home Tests.
- New Zealand has won the last three meetings at Murrayfield by eight points or fewer.
Can Scotland finally break their long-standing drought against New Zealand? With a passionate home crowd behind them, the match promises to be an exciting battle.
