Mike Blair will resume the Scotland captaincy when they bid for a first Test win against New Zealand after being restored to the side by coach Andy Robinson.
Former England flanker and coach Robinson’s team, unveiled here on Tuesday, showed five changes to the starting XV that ran out for Scotland’s last Test, a 13-9 win away to Argentina in June.
Blair replaced Rory Lawson, now on the bench, while Rory Lamont came in for the recently injured Simon Danielli on the wing.
In the pack Euan Murray is preferred to Moray Low at tighthead prop while the Glasgow pair, Richie Gray, 21, and Richie Vernon, 23, will both make their first starts for Scotland in place of their team-mates, Alastair Kellock and Johnnie Beattie both of whom are recovering from injuries.
Scotland have lost 25 of their 27 Tests against New Zealand, with their best results two draws – 0-0 in 1964 and 25-25 in 1983.
This is their first match of the November programme but the All Blacks, bidding for a ‘grand slam,’ will arrive at Murrayfield on the back of a 26-16 victory against England at Twickenham.
Scotland:
15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Rory Lamont, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Mike Blair (capt), 8 Richie Vernon, 7 John Barclay, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Nathan Hines, 19 Ross Rennie, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Ruaridh Jackson, 22 Nikki Walker
Some interesting choices there, surprised to see Hines only on the bench, and the Lamonts must have been playing really well, I thought Nikki Walker should have been in the starting line up too. At centre it would seem that they have gone for the familiarity of the Glasgow 2, but my preference would have been Alex Grove and Max Evans, even if Morrision is the regular inside centre, I think he is no more than a solid player. Not a fan of Ruaridh Jackson, maybe he should stay in sevens, would have preferred Ducan Weir as reserve flyhalf instead. The two of them have been alternating at Glasgow and feel that Weir has more strength for a direct game and is the better kicker. But don’t think either of them have established themself as number 1 flyhalf for Glasgow, so thats not a good situation to be in depth wise for the national team.
The ones will miss the most unfortunately through injury are Ali Kellock and John Beattie, Richie Vernon is ok but not quite in Beatties’ class.
Moray Low has been playing well too so pity he is not on the bench, maybe Dickinson is more versatile to cover both props.