EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) - New Zealand made only one change to its lineup to play Scotland in a rugby test at Murrayfield on Saturday, starting Codie Taylor for the injured Dane Coles.
Coles ruptured a knee ligament last Saturday in the 38-18 win over France. Taylor will play his 27th test, and Nathan Harris replaced him in the reserves on Thursday.
Also, Liam Squire became the backup lock-loose forward after playing on Tuesday in the 28-23 win over a French XV in Lyon. Scott Barrett was dropped.
Scotland made two changes, both forced by injuries, after outlasting Samoa 44-38 at Murrayfield last weekend.
No. 8 Cornell du Preez will make his first start for Scotland in his fourth test, and tighthead prop Zander Fagerson received his 14th cap. They replace WP Nel, who broke his arm, and No. 8 Ryan Wilson, who injured his shoulder, against Samoa.
Backup tighthead Simon Berghan has come into the reserves, along with uncapped Leicester loose forward Luke Hamilton. Tim Swinson’s hand injury has ruled him out of this match and Australia next week, giving Grant Gilchrist the backup lock position.
Uncapped Sale winger Byron McGuigan was in the reserves in place of Chris Harris, who made his debut against Samoa.
Scotland has never beaten New Zealand.
“Scotland, from all indications, will be looking to play skillful rugby and an up-tempo game,” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said. “Therefore, we’ll need to meet this challenge head on and be prepared to empty the tank and exert our own pressure upon them through both our physicality, our own tempo in the game, and executing our skills at the highest level.”
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Lineups:
Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Alex Dunbar, Lee Jones, Finn Russell, Ali Price; Cornell du Preez, Hamish Watson, John Barclay (captain), Jonny Gray, Ben Toolis, Zander Fagerson, Stuart McInally, Darryl Marfo. Reserves: George Turner, Jamie Bhatti, Simon Berghan, Grant Gilchrist, Luke Hamilton, Henry Pyrgos, Pete Horne, Byron McGuigan.
New Zealand: Damian McKenzie, Waisake Naholo, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, Kane Hames. Reserves: Nathan Harris, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Liam Squire, Matt Todd, TJ Perenara, Lima Sopoaga, Anton Lienert-Brown.
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