Duhan van der Merwe, Jamie Ritchie and Zander Fagerson are all notable absentees from Scotland’s 23-man squad for Saturday’s Murrayfield showdown with New Zealand.
All three have been common starters for Gregor Townsend in latest seasons.
Whereas prop Fagerson was in a well-documented battle to be to be match after being sidelined by damage since early April, joint-record scorer Van der Merwe and former Scotland captain Ritchie will not be injured and have merely been ignored for choice.
Glasgow wing Kyle Steyn begins as a substitute of British and Irish Lions winger Van der Merwe, who notched a double towards the USA final weekend.
“It’s really rewarding Kyle’s form this season, and probably since he came back from injury after the Six Nations,” mentioned Townsend.
“He was very good in the summer tour, but really it’s about this season. Not all of our players have been able to play a number of games leading into this tournament, but Kyle’s been consistently strong in all aspects of his game so he’s earned this opportunity.”
Van der Merwe, who impressed through the 85-0 rout of the USA, is just not within the 23, with versatile again duo Tom Jordan and Jamie Dobie most well-liked on the bench.
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Van der Merwe scored a hat-trick for the British and Irish Lions towards an AUNZ XV
“He was actually okay,” Townsend mentioned when requested how Van der Merwe took information of his omission. “It’s the first time Duhan has been dropped from the Scotland team, the first time I’ve had to drop him. I get on really well with Duhan.
“It was a superb event final week for him along with his fiftieth cap, you may see how emotional he was with that. He is actually related with the employees and the gamers.
“Of course he’d be disappointed but he’s trained well this week and that’s all you ask for players, to park the disappointment and get behind the team that’s selected at the weekend.”
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Fast palms set Van der Merwe free for a strive towards Queensland Reds
Edinburgh prop D’Arcy Rae will begin at tighthead in Fagerson’s absence and versatile Glasgow ahead Gregor Brown, whose most up-to-date begins for Scotland have come within the second row, will line up at blindside flanker instead of back-rower Ritchie.
Ritchie, who loved a powerful Six Nations, was additionally unnoticed of the 23 having endured a tricky begin to the season with Perpignan.
“Jamie was very good last year, then got injured in that Fiji game [in the summer],” mentioned Townsend.
“It’s been difficult for him in Perpignan. They’ve lost every game, but he’s actually done a lot of good things for Perpignan. We just felt he misses out this week because other guys are playing better.”
Rory Hutchinson of Northampton will make a uncommon begin at centre, with Huw Jones dominated out till the brand new yr.
Forwards Elliot Millar Mills and Rory Darge have been handed match after their latest damage points to be included among the many replacements as Scotland bid to tug off their first win over New Zealand.
Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 4 Scott Cummings, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Gregor Brown, 7 Matt Fagerson, 8 Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: 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.
