Following a hard-fought win over Ireland in Chicago, the All Blacks are gearing up for their next Autumn Nations Series showdown against Scotland at Murrayfield this Saturday. This match is a crucial part of New Zealand's 2025 Grand Slam tour, which will also see them face England and Wales later this month. With injuries sidelining key players including Jordie Barrett and captain Scott Barrett, head coach Scott Robertson is expected to shuffle his lineup. Here’s a speculative look at who might take the field for New Zealand.
At fullback, Will Jordan, despite not scoring recently, remains indispensable for his all-around gameplay. On the wings, try machine Leroy Carter and the powerhouse Caleb Clarke, who’s had limited appearances due to injury this year, are predicted to start. The midfield sees Quinn Tupaea shifting to inside centre, his preferred position, and Leicester Fainga’anuku stepping up at outside centre. Tupaea's shift comes after Jordie Barrett's tour-ending injury, positioning him where he has historically excelled for the Chiefs.
"I feel most at home at inside centre, and I’m ready to bring that comfort to the international stage," Tupaea remarked.
Beauden Barrett will continue to orchestrate play from fly-half, with Cam Roigard supporting him at scrum-half. The forward pack sees Ethan de Groot anchoring the scrum at loosehead prop, with Codie Taylor as hooker and Fletcher Newell filling in at tighthead. The second row will feature Fabian Holland alongside Josh Lord, who steps in for the injured Scott Barrett. The dynamic Ardie Savea, now captain in Barrett’s absence, leads the back row with rookie Simon Parker and the impressive Peter Lakai completing the flanker positions.
"It’s an honor to captain the side, especially in a challenging environment like Murrayfield," Savea expressed. "We’re here to make an impact and keep pushing our limits."
Despite the reshuffles, the bench remains robust, featuring impact players like Rieko Ioane and Damian McKenzie, who can change the game’s dynamics upon their entry. As the All Blacks gear up for this pivotal clash, the blend of seasoned campaigners and fresh talent is expected to deliver a compelling performance against the Scottish challenge.
Predicted All Blacks lineup vs Scotland: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Ardie Savea (c), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 14. Leroy Carter, 15. Will Jordan Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Sam Darry, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Rieko Ioane, 23. Damian McKenzie
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Following a hard-fought win over Ireland in Chicago, the All Blacks are gearing up for their next Autumn Nations Series showdown against Scotland at Murrayfield this Saturday. This match is a crucial part of New Zealand's 2025 Grand Slam tour, which will also see them face England and Wales later this month. With injuries sidelining key players including Jordie Barrett and captain Scott Barrett, head coach Scott Robertson is expected to shuffle his lineup. Here’s a speculative look at who might take the field for New Zealand.
At fullback, Will Jordan, despite not scoring recently, remains indispensable for his all-around gameplay. On the wings, try machine Leroy Carter and the powerhouse Caleb Clarke, who’s had limited appearances due to injury this year, are predicted to start. The midfield sees Quinn Tupaea shifting to inside centre, his preferred position, and Leicester Fainga’anuku stepping up at outside centre. Tupaea's shift comes after Jordie Barrett's tour-ending injury, positioning him where he has historically excelled for the Chiefs.
"I feel most at home at inside centre, and I’m ready to bring that comfort to the international stage," Tupaea remarked.
Beauden Barrett will continue to orchestrate play from fly-half, with Cam Roigard supporting him at scrum-half. The forward pack sees Ethan de Groot anchoring the scrum at loosehead prop, with Codie Taylor as hooker and Fletcher Newell filling in at tighthead. The second row will feature Fabian Holland alongside Josh Lord, who steps in for the injured Scott Barrett. The dynamic Ardie Savea, now captain in Barrett’s absence, leads the back row with rookie Simon Parker and the impressive Peter Lakai completing the flanker positions.
"It’s an honor to captain the side, especially in a challenging environment like Murrayfield," Savea expressed. "We’re here to make an impact and keep pushing our limits."
Despite the reshuffles, the bench remains robust, featuring impact players like Rieko Ioane and Damian McKenzie, who can change the game’s dynamics upon their entry. As the All Blacks gear up for this pivotal clash, the blend of seasoned campaigners and fresh talent is expected to deliver a compelling performance against the Scottish challenge.
Predicted All Blacks lineup vs Scotland: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Ardie Savea (c), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 14. Leroy Carter, 15. Will Jordan Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Sam Darry, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Rieko Ioane, 23. Damian McKenzie