Scotland v New Zealand LIVE: Latest score and updates as hosts seek historic win over All Blacks in fascinating Nations Championship clash

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu senses the team that can stay “tougher for longer” will emerge victorious. Scotland looked like they might claim a first win over the All Blacks last year after fighting back from 17-0 down to level, only to lose it to a late try.

Gregor Townsend’s team have since beaten the likes of England and France in Edinburgh and Tuipulotu feels they have progressed.

“We’ve been through a lot in the last 12 months, as coaching staff, as a playing group and as a team together,” the Glasgow centre said.

“We’ve had to support each other, been through some losses that we’ve had to pick each other up, and we’ve also been out there with some landmark victories.

“I do feel like we’ve progressed a lot in the last 12 months and it’s been the experiences that have allowed us to progress, playing in Pretoria against the world champions, having those type of experiences that as a team we haven’t really been exposed to a lot, at least for as long as I’ve been playing for Scotland.

“We learned a lot about finishing off games and we carry a lot of disappointment from that game just because we had come back from 17 points down and really wrestled back momentum to the point where it was pretty overwhelming. It gives us confidence that we can create a game that can overwhelm the All Blacks at times, but obviously we didn’t do enough and I hope that over the last 12 months the experiences that we’ve had against other top teams put us in good stead for the last 15 minutes.”

The All Blacks are boosted by the return from injury of Jordie Barrett at inside centre, with the youngest Barrett brother joining siblings Scott and Beauden in the starting side. Codie Taylor continues to lead the team with Ardie Savea sidelined, and Tupou Vaa’i’s long limbs are again favoured on the blindside.

Christian Lio-Willie is set for his first appearance under Dave Rennie from the bench having been brought in to the squad after a strong NPC campaign with Otago.

New Zealand XV: 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor (capt.), 3 Fletcher Newell; 4 Scott Barrett, 5 Fabian Holland; 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 7 Peter Lakai, 8 Wallace Sititi; 9 Cam Roigard, 10 Damian McKenzie; 11 Josh Moorby, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 14 Will Jordan; 15 Beauden Barrett.

Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 George Bower, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Christian Lio-Willie, 20 Anton Segner; 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Rieko Ioane.

Gregor Townsend springs something of a surprise at full-back, where Kyle Rowe is preferred to Tom Jordan and Blair Kinghorn as the Scotland head coach draws on a strong Glasgow connection through his squad. 10 of the starting 15 play for the Warriors, while No 8 Jack Dempsey represented the club until this summer before his move to Japan.

It is a familiar looking selection otherwise with Huw Jones alongside captain Sione Tuipulotu in midfield, though Rory Sutherland gets a start ahead of Pierre Schoeman at loosehead. Young hooker Gregor Hiddleston makes the bench after a summer debut.

Scotland XV: 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Zander Fagerson; 4 Gregor Brown, 5 Scott Cummings; 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey; 9 Ben White, 10 Finn Russell; 11 Jamie Dobie, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 13 Huw Jones, 14 Kyle Steyn; 15 Kyle Rowe.

Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Josh Bayliss; 21 George Horne, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Blair Kinghorn.

Want to know what the referees will be focussing on this November? I spent Monday in camp with the World Rugby officiating team for a fascinating look behind the scenes at how they prepare, and their points of emphasis as the Nations Championship returns.

There was intriguing news, meanwhile, this week with 10 of the world’s leading nations joining forces to try and grow the commercial profile of this competition and the sport at large. Where does that leave the rest? It’s slightly unclear, but top administrators believe this is a necessary step.

New Zealand are dealing with a uniquely challenging year, with the Nations Championship alongside the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour and Bledisloe Cup clashes to create a demanding itinerary of international action. What impact might fatigue play across November? Here’s how you can follow every fixture.

All of our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the All Blacks’ security chief Logan Cadwallader, who passed away suddenly in Edinburgh shortly after the New Zealand squad arrived in Scotland last weekend. Incredibly popular within the group, Dave Rennie’s side have promised to play in Cadwallader’s memory today.

“Logan has been a big part of the All Blacks family for a long time. He was the ultimate team man, loved and trusted by all and a true professional,” Rennie said. “He looked after all of us, players and staff, and he was a good mate to many in this team. We are all devastated. Our thoughts are with his wife, Nannette, his children, Trey, Brooke and Mia, and his wider family and friends. As a team, we will honour Logan and the legacy he has left on the All Blacks.” Desperate news.

Gregor Townsend believes experience can help his Scotland side as they attempt to break their duck against New Zealand.

Scotland have never beaten the All Blacks in 33 previous meetings but have given them some challenging games in recent years and Townsend is banking on those near misses helping his players when the teams meet today.

The last four encounters have been settled by eight points or fewer and Scotland fought back from losing the first 17 points last year to level the scores and look the likelier winners until Damian McKenzie scored late on for the visitors.

Winger Kyle Rowe and second-row forward Gregor Brown are the only two players in Townsend’s starting line-up with less than 20 caps but both will hit that milestone on Saturday.

Townsend said: “A lot of people in sport know the All Blacks is the iconic rugby team. But our players have played against them, so that will help.

“It helps again that we will play at Murrayfield. The atmospheres in this game in recent years have been amazing. Sometimes for different reasons, with Doddie (Weir) being at the game in 2017 with his family.

“But I also think with the way the two teams play, it sets it up for open rugby, and I think our supporters appreciate when the All Blacks come, but I also think they appreciate how we play against them too.”

In Dave Rennie and Mike Blair, New Zealand have a coaching ticket forged in Scotland. Together, the former Glasgow coach and Scotland captain have transformed the All Blacks – but is their side the one to finally be beaten by their hosts?

The Nations Championship rolls on with perhaps the pick of the fixtures in this round this afternoon at Murrayfield. Scotland have never beaten New Zealand in 33 previous attempts stretching back more than a century, but hopes are high that they can again test the All Blacks have pushed them close last year.

Is this the day history is made? Kick off in Edinburgh is at 2.10pm GMT.