Scottish Rugby

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Scotland coach John Dalziel insists the focus is firmly on their own game plan as they try to secure a first ever win over New Zealand this weekend.

The All Blacks have won 30 and drawn two matches against Scotland since the first meeting of the sides 120 years ago.

"I think there's been a huge stigma with the All Blacks in the past and a lot of teams have built that up," Dalziel - who was part of the British and Irish Lions set-up last summer - said.

"We're really trying to focus on ourselves, on our game and what we build, and that's really been the approach, so we'll keep it that way. 80% will be on us and getting our best foot forward."

Scotland ran New Zealand close at Murrayfield in 2022, leading 23-14 before falling to a 31-23 defeat.

Dalziel says Scotland have grown since that heart-breaking loss and must take learnings if they find themselves in front on Saturday.

"It's been a great benchmark for us," he said of the 2022 match. "I think a lot of growth and learning will be around how we stay on track, how we build on leads when we have them like that.

"I suppose the mental toughness side of it – how we can make sure, if we get back in that position with 20 minutes to go on the clock, that we can see it home?"

Dalziel hinted there could be returns for Zander Fagerson - who has been out since April - and Rory Darge against the All Blacks.

"Both of them [made] big strides last week," Dalziel said. "Obviously Zander's been out for a long period of time.

"It's a long time out and I know we all want to see him back as soon as possible and we're hopeful that he'll be back on track but we'll do the right thing with him and see how he is to train tomorrow."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Jamie Dobie is the real deal

The player of the match on the night, putting in a performance that has made fans ask whether he's taken the scrum-half shirt off Ben White.

The realistic answer is 'almost certainly not' but his versatility means he's probably a good shout for the bench against the All Blacks.

Equally as adept on the wing, he does everything a good number nine should do - great service, a good kicking game, an eye for a snipe and the ability to run superb support lines.

Even better, he looks just as good on the wing and that might nudge him above George Horne in the standings.

Liam McConnell is ready for next step

The 21-year-old was instrumental from the get go on his Scotland debut, setting up Duhan van der Merwe with a pass the Harlem Globetrotters would have been proud of.

He made a couple of lung-bursting breaks, but suffered from a touch of white line fever in the second half. Who can blame him?

He's started the season brilliantly at Edinburgh and looks certain to make this his breakthrough year, but can he emulate it for Scotland?

There are plenty of big names ahead of him in the squad - Jamie Ritchie, Matt Fagerson, Andy Onyeama-Christie, Luke Crosbie - but his aggression gives him an edge that others lack.

Duhan van der Merwe has evolved his game

That was the claim that Gregor Townsend made about the big, blonde winger on the occasion of his 50th cap, and the head coach was absolutely spot on.

Although previously lamented for his defensive culpabilities and selfish play, the winger has become far more adept at putting others into space and over the line.

While he wasn't forced to defend all that often, his backfield positioning has also improved and that allows him more time to spot a big prop to run round the outside of.

Under serious pressure from Kyle Steyn for a spot against the All Blacks, he delivered a performance when it was much needed.

We asked for your views on Scotland's 85-0 win over the USA in the autumn Test.

Here's what some of you said:

Mark: Whilst the quality of opposition may not have been great, for 12 out of the 13 tries to be scored by the backs serves as a reminder as to why this fixture attracted 53,000+ fans. We may have not won any major titles but we have been a joy to watch over recent years. Credit to Gregor Townsend and the entire squad!

Garry: Yes, Scotland won easy, but against the USA? Come on. They're going to have a very, very rude awakening next weekend against the All Blacks. Hopefully they watched how the All Blacks tore Ireland apart in the second half of their match. On this showing, Scotland will need to play out of their skins to have any chance at all.

Stuart: A match that tells us precisely nothing in all honesty. Teams can only play what's in front of them and this was an opportunity for some other players to gain caps, however, even they won't have learned much from this experience.

My only real observations from this were Rory Sutherland gave away a stupid, needless penalty when he should know better and Duhan van der Merwe still struggles with defensive positioning which better teams will continue to target.

Simon: Can only beat what's in front of us, and while a win is good for the confidence, the All Blacks will be a totally different game. They are battle-hardened and match sharp and I still have my niggles about our mental strength to win the big games.

David: This was an opportunity for Scotland to give game time to some and experience to others and in that sense it was a valuable exercise. USA were poor and Scotland did well to stick to their plan and to keep some structure. Jamie Dobie must have played his way into selection for next week!

Rosh: A good win but let's not get ahead of ourselves. USA aren't exactly a powerhouse in rugby. The real test is next week against New Zealand.

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The only eyebrow-raising selection in Scotland's autumn squad was Harri Morris and, after his debut, even the Edinburgh hooker admitted he was surprised at the call-up.

Morris, 24, is yet to play a minute of rugby for Edinburgh this season, having come off the bench on four occasions last year.

But that did not deter head coach Gregor Townsend in calling up the back-row convert, who has clearly caught his eye.

"It was definitely a surprise," Morris said after the 85-0 win over the USA. "But I can only thank Gregor [Townsend] for taking a chance on me and believing that I'm good enough to play at this level."

Morris replaced clubmate Paddy Harrison in the second-half, in a game that proved to be Scotland's biggest ever win at Murrayfield.

"The feeling was amazing," he said. "Walking out, it was like nothing I've ever experienced.

"[We were] pretty ruthless. When I got on the second half, the job was quite easy. It was probably done at that point but credit to the boys for playing so well and kept the blocks firing."

And he revealed the message to the players at half-time, when the score was already 45-0, as Scotland continued to put the US to the sword.

"Just to keep the foot in the throat," Morris said. "We want to keep that zero, the nil scoreline, which is a credit to our defence. It was much the same, they were going to come out fighting in the second half.

"I'm sure they got a rocket from their coaches at half-time but credit to us we kept the foot on the throat and the scoreline speaks for itself."

However, the most nerve-wracking part of the day was yet to come for Morris. Making your debut for your country is one thing. Singing in front of your teammates is another.

"Ewan Ashman gave me my tie, and when we go upstairs, I think I've got to sing a song and then get my cap. I'll get thinking about what song to sing but that's what I've got next on the agenda.

"Maybe Robbie Williams, I'll wait and see. I might just go and look up the lyrics!"

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Scotland's 85-0 rout of the USA was the biggest ever win at Murrayfield in 100 years of history at the ground, and their third-biggest win of all-time.

Our pundits were suitably impressed, even if the quality of the opposition was lacking at times.

Former Sevens star Colin Gregor:

"Scotland were excellent. The USA didn't offer a huge amount, but Scotland will be delighted to concede no points. There were many strong passages of play. They executed most of the line breaks they created.

"Some of the guys stepped up to Test match rugby and gave a very good account of themselves individually, but more importantly as a team.

"In those sort of games, it's easy to go off script and be the hero. Scotland stuck together."

Ex-Scotland prop Peter Wright:

"I thought [Dobie] was outstanding, he managed the game really well at nine. He runs those cheat lines, brings everybody into the game, his skillset is good, his kicking game is decent.

"And you put him on the wing and he's international class as well. He does it whoever he plays against. He's got a lot of rugby in him.

"He's got pace, he understands the game."

Our chief sports writer Tom English was similarly enthused by the Scottish performance:

"The scoreline of 85-0 was a fair reflection of the game. I felt sorry for America coming into it, I felt really, really sorry for them at half-time and really, really, really sorry for them now.

"They've been pulverised, and they'll get no joy out of this.

"Scotland get a bit of confidence from this. A few people have put their hands up for the 23 next week against New Zealand, Jamie Dobie being one of them. I'm torn whether to put him in the starting team or stick with Ben White!

"They made a poor team look poor, and they can't do any more than that."

Darcy Graham and Jamie Dobie both scored hat-tricks as Scotland dismantled the United States in a one-sided autumn Test to record their biggest win in Murrayfield's 100-year history.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

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Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend told BBC Scotland: "Straight away, the players were very cohesive which is hard to achieve in a week's training, with a brand new team, but it just shows you the togetherness this group has, but also how hard they worked this week.

"We asked for effort and physicality and we got that for most of the game, clearing the ball in contact, but also when we had to defend. We were aggressive, and disciplined in the main.

"The players really worked hard for each other. It's great there was such a big crowd tonight, and they got to see our strengths. We've obviously got a few very talented guys in our team.

"We've got reference points that we lean into - Wales in March, when we were 35-7 up. We talked about that at half-time.

"Just do your jobs. There will be period when the opposition come back at you. They'll be fired up and more aggressive, but we have to make sure we're clear in contact, there in support.

"There'll be times when the game isn't as fluid, but I was really pleased with the last 10 minutes. If we can have that first 10 minutes and last 10 minutes next week, we'll be in a good place. We know next week will be a much bigger challenge and the team will be much-changed too.

"And a little more from Gregor Townsend: "What a game [Liam McConnell had]. He played with confidence, he was aggressive in defence which is what we expected. His ability in attack to put others into space...

"As a set-piece six too, he put pressure on the line-out and got a couple of good steals in there. A pretty good debut, and the same for Harri Morris. He nailed his line out throws and just did his job.

"It's really good for the future that players can come into our squad and not just contribute but stand out in their performances.

"It's a huge match [next week]. This game has been sold out for a while. Everyone loves watching the All Blacks.

"We've had two cracking matches against them, but not delivered that winning performance.

"All these experiences, today included, have to be put into an 80-minute performance. The players can take confidence from how well they've trained this week.

"We have to build that cohesion pretty quickly. There's no reason why we can't. The guys will be up for it and have the belief they can do it."

BBC Sport Scotland rugby reporter Andy Burke has been answering some of your questions as Scotland prepare to begin the four-match Autumn Nations Series against USA on Saturday.

Graeme asked: Cameron Redpath had another great performance for Bath, why do you think he has not been included in the Autumn Test squad? Who will Gregor Townsend opt for in place of the injured Huw Jones? Rory Hutchinson?

Andy answered: I watched Bath's victory over Bristol and while the eye was drawn to Finn Russell, who looks razor sharp heading into the November Tests, I thought Redpath was very impressive.

He can count himself unfortunate to miss out on the Scotland squad. He has been unlucky in the past when injuries have hampered his chances of really staking a claim in a blue jersey, and that has allowed others to move ahead of him in the pecking order.

Sione Tuipulotu is the captain and nailed-on starter in the 12 jersey, so with Jones missing the question is who starts outside him in the midfield?

Hutchinson is in with a very decent shout. Despite being a standout in the Northampton team for a long time, Townsend has never seemed truly convinced by him.

However, I know Townsend has been impressed with the improvements in Hutchinson's defensive game, and the prospect of utilising two creative ball players in Russell and Hutchinson either side of Tuipulotu could be a tantalising one.

Liam asked: Age old questions, how many wins is seen as good? And can we do it against the All Blacks?

Andy answered: If Scotland can cast aside the history and psychological baggage that comes with their winless record against New Zealand, I see no reason why, if they hit their straps, they can't secure that first-ever victory against the All Blacks.

That's easier said than done, of course, and one only has to look at Scotland's recent struggles against Ireland to see how the longer a winless run goes against a certain team, the harder it is to break the cycle.

If Scotland really are to become the team we all hope, the team that can truly challenge for, and even win, a Six Nations title, they have to be targeting four wins from four.

Taking down the big beasts, rather than merely running them close, has to be the ambition.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Gregor Townsend has reiterated his belief Scotland can beat "any team we come up against" ahead of a testing Autumn Nations campaign.

While the USA this weekend and Tonga shouldn't provide too many issues for Scotland, matches against the All Blacks and Argentina will sternly test the Scots' credentials before Townsend's ninth Six Nations campaign.

Asked if four wins from four was the target in November, head coach Townsend said: "We have to go into every game with a focus on winning, with a gameplan that we believe can get us a win.

"We certainly believe the players can get us wins against any team we come up against. But it's really then down to them.

"It's how you adapt during a game, if you're ahead, if you're behind, what's working, what's not working.

"The quicker we get into that cycle the closer we will be to playing at our best."

While Scotland beat the USA on the 2024 summer tour, the ghosts of a scarring defeat in Houston back in 2018 still linger.

"They did provide tough opposition for us in Washington DC," Townsend said of last year's game which finished 42-7 to the Scots.

"It was a physical game, it was very hot and a stop-start game. They'll have built a lot of cohesion over the last few weeks.

"They've been together, they've played in the PNC [Pacific Nations Cup], they've had a couple of really good performances, a good win against Samoa, and they'll be fired up playing a Six Nations team at Murrayfield."

Townsend named his team on Thursday, with Scott Cummings starting as vice-captain after his summer away with the British and Irish Lions. Since his return to Glasgow, he's only started two of five games.

"There's a balance in the team of players that are experienced, which I think will raise the level of performance, help those players that are coming into the squad for the first time," Towsend added.

"In terms of individuals, we've looked at players that may require more match minutes.

"It has been a disrupted season for some of our players because of injury. For someone like Scott Cummings who went on the Lions tour, he came into the season a bit later, so we think for him, getting another game will be really valuable."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has been speaking to the media after naming his side to face the USA in the first Autumn Nations Series match.

• Townsend has opted for a "balance of players who are experienced ... and players in the squad for the first time", with the likes of Scott Cummings selected to "build up minutes" before tougher Tests.

• Back-row Liam McConnell, 21, will bring aggression to the side on his Test debut, having been selected based on "what he's done with Edinburgh" but also "his potential".

• Townsend paid tribute to Duhan van der Merwe prior to his 50th cap, saying the winger has had "so many special moments" in his five years in a Scotland shirt and has "evolved his game" to become "a defence leader", but still has "a lot more to come".

• ⁠Tighthead prop Zander Fagerson and openside Rory Darge are still on track to be fit for the New Zealand game, with the former training on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Darge is yet to reach that stage.

• Asked if the target should be four victories from four this autumn, Townsend says his team go into every game aiming to win. "We believe our players can win against any team we come up against," he adds.

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Back-rower Liam McConnell admits he did not anticipate being called up by Scotland after just six senior club starts.

The 21-year-old had made only five senior appearances for Edinburgh - four of them as a substitute before this season.

After starting four of his club's five United Rugby Championship matches this term, however, McConnell has been given the chance to make his full Scotland debut after being named in the squad for Tests against the United States, New Zealand, Argentina and Tonga.

"I guess when you're playing you maybe always hope that you might get a call," McConnell said.

"You kind of know what day the phone calls are going out, so you're maybe sitting a bit closer to your phone that day.

"I wasn't waiting on it, but when it came it was definitely a surprise. I was just over the moon to be starting for Edinburgh, even just playing for Edinburgh.

"This is not how I expected the season to go really."

McConnell says his expectation is to train and learn as much as he can during the Autumn window, rather than expect to get time on the pitch.

"Mainly just experience, seeing what some of the best players do and how they train," he said when asked what he hoped to get from the next month.

"Obviously if the opportunity to get a cap did happen, then that as well. That would be awesome. I'm just happy to be here, learning from everyone."

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Chris Paterson believes Scotland can beat New Zealand for the first time but cautions Gregor Townsend's side face "a completely different beast".

The All Blacks lost to South Africa and Argentina in the recent Rugby Championship, with the Springboks taking the title.

On the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast, co-host Tom English suggested the Scots are "going to win" their second autumn Test against New Zealand on 8 November.

Townsend's team face the United States on Saturday (17:40 GMT), with the All Blacks opening their tour series in Ireland later in the day (20:00).

"The quality of the players Scotland have is as good as it's ever been," said Paterson, who scored 809 points in 109 Scotland appearances.

"They have had big wins in recent memory. Can Scotland win big one-off games? They have done. I think they can with the quality we've got.

"The All Blacks are a completely different beast. We've never beaten them. The All Blacks have some phenomenal players.

"The All Blacks have lost more games than, I suppose, they used to. So maybe that sharpens their mentality and sharpens their mind or maybe it dents their aura a little bit.

"They're an incredible outfit - physical, dynamic, willing to play, love the challenge, absolutely thrive on being questioned."

And Paterson added: "It's always exciting when international rugby comes around. Four different challenges. A lot to look forward to.

"A lot to play for - you're almost at that midway point between World Cups. Test matches, they're not running out but we're certainly halfway towards the next one.

"You have to deal with what's in front of you. Performances matter. A lot of chance to show what you're learned in a Lions tour for those that were away."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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New Scotland defence coach Lee Radford says developing a "killer instinct" against the world's top teams is the next step in the national side's evolution.

Radford will combine his Scotland duties with his current role as Northampton defence coach having replaced Steve Tandy, who left Gregor Townsend's backroom team to become Wales head coach.

Scotland are targeting an historic first victory over New Zealand this autumn, and will also face Argentina, Tonga and the USA, whom they host at Murrayfield on Saturday.

"I think there's two real pluses for the group," Radford said.

"The average age is a good age. It's coming up to their best years. Secondly, the amount of caps they've consistently played together, so the cohesion among the group is another strength.

"I think knocking one or two of those [top] sides off, starting with the All Blacks game and Argentina, it won't do us any harm.

"I think they've showed over the last couple of seasons how well they can compete. Having a little bit of that killer instinct among the big boys is obviously the next step."

Sandy Smith
Fan writer

The weekend started well with sunshine and victory over Glasgow A at the Hive on Saturday afternoon. There was a man-of-the-match award for Tom Currie and another strong performance from Malelili Satala for Edinburgh's A team.

It ended badly with heavy rain and defeat to Cardiff in Wales later the same evening.

Yet even that had begun on a positive note with a debut try from Lewis Wells and a half-time lead of 12-19.

It was like Edinburgh had filled a salt shaker with mistakes and then sprinkled them indiscriminately over the last 40 minutes.

Dropped balls, scrum penalties, mis-fielded kicks. We even managed to waste 30 seconds when time was at a premium by not taking a penalty from the mark and when was the last time you saw anyone pulled up for that?

Cardiff slowed the game in that half which seemed to suit them and the limited pressure they were able to bring to the game was more than enough for Edinburgh to implode.

When the clock ran down the mistakes multiplied. The only lineout and scrum we lost were both in the last 10 minutes.

Over the 80 minutes Cardiff created very little. Edinburgh failed to score a point for 60 minutes and in the whole match not one single pass reached either winger. Edinburgh really were the architects of their own demise.

The salt shaker didn't help the season, it just left Edinburgh with the bitter taste of defeat and a meagre nine points and one win from this opening group of games.

There's a small note on the credit side that they have been close in all the games and as a result have five bonus points. They also have a game in hand but that is an optical illusion with the potential to deepen our problems as opposed to alleviating them.

Some of the lofty pre-season ambitions are already looking a bit far-fetched. In the past four seasons a top-four finish in the URC has meant an average of no more than six defeats. When you are at three and winter is still a bit away you are definitely on the back foot.

The remainder of the season has all the hallmarks of a horror story written by Stephen King and as he has even joked himself, the endings aren't good.

Sandy Smith can be found at The Burgh Watch, external

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Leicester Tigers prop Will Hurd has been added to the Scotland squad for the autumn international series.

The 26-year-old, capped nine times, will not be available for the opening match against the United States (1 November) since it falls outside the Test window, limiting head coach Gregor Townsend's selection to players from Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors.

Further Murrayfield outings follow against New Zealand (8 November), Argentina (16 November) and Tonga (23 November).

Hurd, who made his debut against Canada on the summer tour of 2024, offers cover at tight-head, with Zander Fagerson in the squad but yet to feature for Glasgow Warriors this season as he makes his way back from a knee injury.

Seven of Hurd's Scotland appearances have come from the bench, with his one try coming on his home debut against Portugal last November.

Scotland squad

Backs: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors) Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Finn Russell (Bath), Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Ross Thompson (Edinburgh), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon).

Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors), Alexander Masibaka (Montpellier), Liam McConnell (Edinburgh Rugby), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton Saints), Harri Morris (Edinburgh), Andy Onyeama-Christie (Saracens), D'Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Dylan Richardson (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Perpignan), Alex Samuel (Glasgow Warriors), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh), George Turner (Harlequins), Murphy Walker (Glasgow Warriors), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors).

Got any burning questions on Scottish rugby? Our chief sports writer Tom English and reporter Andy Burke are ready to answer them.

Send them in via this link and a selection of answers will be published on this page later in the week.