After clinching a deserved victory over Ireland in Chicago, the All Blacks return to Autumn Nations Series action against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
This weekend’s encounter is the men in black’s second assignment on their 2025 Grand Slam campaign, with further Tests against England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on November 15 and Wales at the Principality Stadium on November 22 still lying in wait.
Jordie Barrett is ruled out of the rest of the tour through injury, and his brother, Scott, who is the All Blacks‘ captain, is sidelined from this clash due to a leg complaint. We expect head coach Scott Robertson to make at least a couple of changes.
Here is our best bet at a potential All Blacks line-up to face Scotland at Murrayfield this weekend.
Predicted New Zealand team v Scotland
15 Will Jordan
The prolific try-scorer hasn’t crossed the whitewash in a while, but despite his lack of tries, he is still a vital cog in the All Blacks machine and should retain his spot in the starting line-up. Apart from being a genuine attacking threat from the back, the 27-year-old is also safe under the high ball and solid in defence.
14 Leroy Carter
The former New Zealand sevens representative has been ever-present since making a try-scoring debut against the Springboks in the Rugby Championship Test in Wellington. Although he did not score a try against Ireland, he always looks dangerous on attack and should keep Scotland‘s defenders on their toes once he builds up a head of steam on attack.
13 Leicester Fainga’anuku
With the first choice inside centre Jordie Barrett ruled out of the tour after injuring his ankle and knee after 15 minutes against Ireland, we expect Quinn Tupaea, who started at outside centre in that encounter, to wear the number 12 jersey against Scotland. That will allow Fainga’anuku to slot into the number 13 spot after he shone in that position after coming on as Barrett’s replacement against Ireland.
12 Quinn Tupaea
Barrett’s misfortune allows Tupaea to start at inside centre, which is his favourite position, where he has delivered several outstanding performances for the Chiefs at Super Rugby Pacific level this year. After shining alongside Barrett at outside centre in recent Tests, he continued with his fine form in his favourite position after taking over from his midfield partner in Chicago, and he should continue in that vein at Murrayfield.
11 Caleb Clarke
Another explosive player who can change the course of a match with a moment of magic, Clarke has been plagued by injuries in 2025 and only represented his country in two Tests this year. He did not score a try against Ireland, but caught the eye with some barnstorming attacking runs while he was also solid under the high ball and on defence and should retain his spot in the run-on side.
10 Beauden Barrett
The 2015 Rugby World Cup winner has been the All Blacks’ first-choice fly-half this year and has delivered some outstanding attacking performances. He showed his class with excellent game management in Chicago, especially in that game’s final quarter when his opponents were chasing the game. Fellow playmaker Damian McKenzie also impressed off the bench alongside Barrett against Ireland but the latter should retain his starting berth.
9 Cam Roigard
The 24-year-old is now firmly entrenched in the All Blacks starting line-up as their first choice scrum-half and consolidated that position with a fine all-round performance against Ireland. Roigard provided a slick service to his outside backs and scored a well-taken try to seal his side’s victory in that encounter.
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8 Peter Lakai
The 22-year-old continued with his impressive start to his fledgling Test career with a superb all-round display in last weekend’s triumph over the Irish. Lakai came to the fore with a high work-rate on either side of the ball and combined brilliantly with the more experienced Ardie Savea. Wallace Sititi came off the bench against
7 Ardie Savea (c)
One of the world’s best players, the experienced back-row star emptied the tank against Andy Farrell’s troops as he was dangerous with ball in hand and was rewarded with a try for his efforts. Apart from his attacking prowess, Savea also put in a big shift in defence and the breakdown battle. With Scott Barrett ruled out due to injury, he should also captain the side.
6 Simon Parker
The rookie international back-row was off the field briefly late in the opening half against Ireland and was eventually replaced permanently on the hour-mark with Wallace Sititi coming on as his replacement on both occasions but despite the latter’s cameos, we expect Parker to retain his starting position. He gets through plenty of work on defence and is a willing ball carrier who has not disappointed the All Blacks yet.
5 Fabian Holland
The behemoth second-rower made his Test debut against France earlier this year and continues to improve with each match that he plays for his country. Holland has been one of the All Blacks’ success stories in 2025 as he shines in the execution of his core duties, with his lineout work particularly impressive.
4 Josh Lord
With the team’s captain, Scott Barrett, sidelined from this encounter due to a laceration on his leg, which required a dozen stitches, Lord is expected to come into the run-on side after replacing his skipper after just three minutes in Chicago. He brought plenty of energy to the All Blacks’ cause on that occasion with his excellent lineout work, one of his strengths.
3 Fletcher Newell
With regular tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax ruled out of the Grand Slam tour, Newell has been elevated to the run-on side, and he has given a good account of himself. Newell is a strong scrummager and also does well on defence, and should retain his position as the starting number three.
2 Codie Taylor
The experienced hooker had some difficult moments in the lineouts of late, where he failed to find his jumpers, but that is an issue which we expect him to sort out at training and he should retain his spot in the starting line-up. One of his strengths is his ball carrying ability, especially at close quarters, while he is also solid on defence.
1 Ethan de Groot
This was a tough decision as Tamaiti Williams was one of the players who brought plenty of energy off the replacements and was rewarded with a well-taken try for his efforts, but we expect De Groot to retain his starting role. He put in a strong scrummaging display in Chicago and will be determined to continue in that vein at Murrayfield.
Bench: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Damian McKenzie
With Fainga’anuku and Lord promoted to the starting line-up, we expect some changes amongst the replacements, with Rieko Ioane and Sam Darry expected to slot into those back-up roles. Although players like Anton Lienert-Brown and Billy Proctor will also be in the running as one of the backline replacements, Ioane’s ability to cover the centre and wing positions gives him the edge over the aforementioned duo.
The rest of the replacements will be the same as those that were in action against Ireland, with Sititi, Williams, Darry, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Pasilio Tosi the remaining forward cover in a five/three bench split, while Cortez Ratima and McKenzie should join Ioane as the rest of the backline reinforcements.