Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has axed star South African winger Duhan van der Merwe for Saturday’s Test against the All Blacks at Murrayfield.
Scotland’s joint all-time leading try-scorer, with 34, has been a near-permanent fixture in the national side since debuting in 2020.
However, Townsend has opted for Kyle Steyn to start on the left wing, with Darcy Graham – who drew level with Van der Merwe’s try tally after scoring a hat-trick against the USA last week – retained on the right.
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Townsend has named a 6-2 bench split to bolster his pack.
Rory Darge and Josh Bayliss provide loose-forward cover, while the versatile Jamie Dobie and Tom Jordan are the only backline replacements.
SCOTLAND – 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Matt Fagerson, 6 Gregor Brown, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Bench: 16 George Turner, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Rory Darge, 21 Josh Bayliss, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Tom Jordan.
Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
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