Scotland vs New Zealand - three key battles including 'tempo setter' who could recapture magic from France win

Scotland are once again chasing a historic first win over New Zealand when the Nations Championship resumes at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made some big selection calls in his 23-man squad to face the All Blacks and we have identified three of the individuals in the starting XV plus their main opponent from the visiting team that we feel could play a vital role in swaying the final result.

Here are the key battles we except to have a major impact on Saturday’s match between Scotland and the All Blacks:

Rory Sutherland vs Fletcher Newell

Rory Sutherland’s selection at loose-head over Pierre Schoeman was easily the most eye-catching of the forward pack. Many who attempted to predict the team didn’t even have the two time British & Irish Lions tourist in their 23, let alone the starting XV.

Schoeman is well established as first choice in the number 1 jersey while Sutherland’s Glasgow Warriors teammate Nathan McBeth has had a fine start to the URC season while 34-year-old has been out injured. His selection likely comes down to two main factors with the first being his scrummaging ability.

The Hawick native, when he is at his best, is Scotland’s most dominant option at the set piece and establishing a strong foothold there in the first half will be important to give Gregor Townsend’s side a solid platform to build from. He will be going head-to-head, quite literally, with 43-cap Crusaders tight-head Fletcher Newell at scrum time.

The 26-year-old from Rangiora is also best known for his scrummaging while utilising the same power to be a threat in the loose. Considering that, it perhaps makes sense why the veteran Sutherland was given the nod to try and counter his threat.

The second big benefit of his selection will be the ability to introduce Schoeman from the bench. That can give not just his teammates but also the Murrayfield crowd a real lift, should they need it, in the second half.

Scott Cummings vs Scott Barrett

Speaking of the set piece, the line out has the potential to be another key battle ground on Saturday. Scotland have a useful familiarity in their pack with six of their eight starting forwards currently at Glasgow while Jack Dempsey only departed Scotstoun in the summer.

Scott Cummings has taken the leadership role in the engine room in his stride as he now regularly plays with less experienced lock partners like club teammates Gregor Brown and Max Williamson instead of 80 plus cap veterans like Grant Gilchrist and Jonny Gray. He will get to test himself on Saturday against one of the world’s best second rowers in Scott Barrett.

The two will be having their own mini battle at line out time and Scotland have the opportunity to take control of that aspect of the game. It was an area where South Africa were able to cause the All Blacks plenty of problems recently as well as one where Glasgow have been enjoying great success this season.

With the aforementioned Warriors consistency in the starting pack it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Townsend take inspiration from Franco Smith’s side and look to make the most of the maul.

Ben White vs Cam Roigard

For all the talk of set pieces, it’s clear from the selection in the backs that Scotland are looking to cause the biggest problems in open play. Assistant coach Peter Horne said earlier in the week it was about being ‘calm in the chaos’.

Huw Jones and Kyle Rowe ahead of Rory Hutchinson and Blair Kinghorn at centre and full back respectively is quite clearly a more attacking choice. Scotland want to get the ball to these players early and in space.

That all starts with the scrum-half setting a quick tempo, something Ben White certainly has no problem doing. Of course, it’s a game plan the All Blacks and their own number nine, Cam Roigard, are well suited too as well.

The battle of the two half-backs is another case where it isn’t two styles contrasting, rather two similarly minded players looking to get ahead of each other. White already managed to do that this year against the very best when he played a key role in helping the Scots beat Antoine Dupont’s France and if he and his teammates can get even close to the attacking pace and fluidity they showed that day then we should be in for another blockbuster Test.

Get our rugby newsletter by clicking here