Jones returns to Scotland midfield as Townsend names side to end 33-Test New Zealand drought

Gregor Townsend has named his Scotland side to face New Zealand at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday, 7 November 2026, with British and Irish Lions centre Huw Jones returning to the starting lineup after sitting out the whole of the July Nations Championship window.

Jones, who plays his club rugby at Toulon, will partner captain Sione Tuipulotu in midfield as Scotland attempt to end a winless run stretching back 33 Tests against the All Blacks — a sequence that includes only two draws, both more than 40 years ago in 1964 and 1983.

Notably absent from the backline are Scotland’s joint record try-scorers Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham, as Townsend continues to search for his most effective combination heading into 2026. Jamie Dobie starts on the left wing, with vice-captain Kyle Steyn and Kyle Rowe completing the back three. Rowe earns the nod ahead of Blair Kinghorn, who drops to the bench.

Finn Russell, a Lions flyhalf with 95 caps, starts at ten alongside Toulon scrumhalf Ben White, while the front row features Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman, and Zander Fagerson — an experienced trio Townsend has leaned on heavily in recent campaigns.

The second row is an all-Glasgow Warriors pairing of Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings, with the loose-forward trio of Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, and Jack Dempsey set to face a formidable All Blacks back row of Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai, and Wallace Sititi.

Front-row cover on the bench comes from three different franchises: Gregor Hiddleston, Pierre Schoeman, and Will Hurd. Max Williamson and Josh Bayliss provide second-row depth, while George Horne, Tom Jordan, and Kinghorn offer backline options.

Scotland XV vs New Zealand — Saturday, 7 November 2026, kick-off 2.10pm, Scottish Gas Murrayfield

1. Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors, 19 caps) 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)