All Blacks team news: Fainga’anuku left out as Jordie Barrett returns

Leicester Fainga’anuku has been left out of New Zealand’s matchday squad for Scotland, with Dave Rennie recalling Jordie Barrett and Ethan de Groot to his starting XV for Saturday’s Nations Championship Test.

Codie Taylor captains the All Blacks at Murrayfield on 7 November, with kick-off at 2.10pm GMT. Barrett returns at inside centre, while De Groot replaces George Bower at loosehead prop.

Those are the only two changes to the team that started the 43-21 win over Australia in Sydney. Asafo Aumua, Christian Lio-Willie and Anton Segner come onto the bench.

Jordie Barrett returns as Rennie keeps faith with winning combinations

Barrett partners Quinn Tupaea in midfield, with Timoci Tavatavanawai moving to the replacements. Bower also drops to the bench as De Groot joins Taylor and Fletcher Newell in the front row.

The confirmed All Blacks team announcement keeps Cam Roigard and Damian McKenzie together at half-back. Beauden Barrett starts at full-back, with Will Jordan and Josh Moorby on the wings.

That continuity gives Scotland a familiar challenge: New Zealand have multiple playmakers capable of changing the point of attack, with Jordie Barrett adding another option in midfield.

All Blacks team to face Scotland

No.	Player
15	Beauden Barrett
14	Will Jordan
13	Quinn Tupaea
12	Jordie Barrett
11	Josh Moorby
10	Damian McKenzie
9	Cam Roigard
1	Ethan de Groot
2	Codie Taylor (captain)
3	Fletcher Newell
4	Scott Barrett
5	Fabian Holland
6	Tupou Vaa’i
7	Peter Lakai
8	Wallace Sititi

Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 George Bower, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Christian Lio-Willie, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Rieko Ioane.

Fainga’anuku misses out as Lio-Willie and Segner get their chance

Fainga’anuku returned to the All Blacks’ northern tour squad as a loose forward after his injury lay-off, but has not made the 23 for the opening match. The team announcement gives no specific reason for his omission.

Rennie retains a five-forwards, three-backs split among the replacements. Lio-Willie and Segner provide back-row cover, while Tavatavanawai and Ioane offer options in midfield and the back three.

Sititi continues at number eight with Ardie Savea unavailable through a shoulder injury. Segner, who already has three Test caps, could make his first appearance under Rennie if introduced from the bench.

Scotland name experienced side for another shot at history

Gregor Townsend has selected 10 Glasgow Warriors players in his starting XV, with Sione Tuipulotu captaining the side alongside Huw Jones in the centres.

Kyle Rowe starts at full-back, Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie are on the wings, and Finn Russell partners Ben White at half-back. Jack Dempsey anchors a back row completed by Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge.

The Scotland team announcement lists Rowe and lock Gregor Brown on 19 caps each, meaning both will reach 20 appearances on Saturday. Our Scotland vs New Zealand team news has both matchday squads.

Scotland have never beaten New Zealand in 33 Tests, with 31 defeats and two draws. Last year’s meeting ended 25-17 to the All Blacks after the hosts recovered from 17-0 down to draw level before McKenzie’s late intervention.

Rennie expects Scotland to test the All Blacks

Rennie has highlighted the similarities between the teams’ attacking approaches. “They play a very similar brand of footy to us and we know we’ll need to be at our best on Saturday,” he said in comments reported by AFP.

New Zealand face Wales and England after the Murrayfield Test, before the Nations Championship finals weekend. For Scotland, Saturday brings another opportunity to turn a competitive performance against the All Blacks into a first victory.

The match is live on ITV1 and STV, with streaming through ITVX and STV Player. Our Scotland vs New Zealand TV guide has the full viewing details for the 2.10pm GMT kick-off.