Scotland v New Zealand: Nations Championship rugby union – live

Dave Rennie makes just two changes to the All Blacks side that beat Australia 43-21 in Sydney last month. Ethan de Groot returns at loosehead, while Jordie Barrett is restored to midfield alongside Quinn Tupaea. Damian McKenzie continues at fly-half with Cam Roigard at scrum-half, while Beauden Barrett starts at full-back and the prolific Will Jordan remains on the wing.

Codie Taylor captains the side from hooker, with Scott Barrett and Fabian Holland in the second row. The back row of Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi remains intact. Jordan, who scored six tries in the opening three rounds of the Nations Championship, will again be a major attacking threat.

Asafo Aumua, Christian Lio-Willie and Anton Segner come onto the bench, alongside Rieko Ioane and Timoci Tavatavanawai. Rennie knows Scottish rugby well, having succeeded Gregor Townsend at Glasgow Warriors in 2017. Former Scotland captain Mike Blair is also part of his coaching staff.

New Zealand: Beauden Barrett; Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby, Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor (capt), Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland, Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi.

Replacement: Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Pasilio Tosi, Christian Lio-Willie, Anton Segner, Cortez Ratima, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Rieko Ioane.

Gregor Townsend has leaned heavily on familiarity, selecting 10 Glasgow Warriors players in his starting XV and 13 in the matchday squad. Captain Sione Tuipulotu is reunited with Huw Jones in midfield, while Finn Russell, winning his 96th cap, partners Ben White at half-back for the seventh time this year. Kyle Rowe starts at full-back ahead of Blair Kinghorn, who is among the replacements, with Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie completing an all-Glasgow back three.

Up front, Rory Sutherland gets the nod at loosehead ahead of Pierre Schoeman, with Ewan Ashman returning at hooker. Ashman, Scotland’s leading try-scoring forward, scored against the All Blacks in last year’s 25-17 defeat. Zander Fagerson completes the front row, while Glasgow teammates Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings form the second row. The back row combines Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey, providing a mixture of carrying power and breakdown expertise.

Scotland: Kyle Rowe; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Jamie Dobie; Finn Russell, Ben White; Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Pierre Schoeman, Will Hurd, Max Williamson, Josh Bayliss, George Horne, Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn.

Across 33 previous meetings, Scotland have never beaten the New Zealand All Blacks. There have neem two draws – 0-0 in 1964 and 25-25 in 1983 – both at Murrayfield. But that’s not the same as winning, and how sweet that single malt will taste if the lads get the job done today.

Their previous four matches have given them reason to be optimistic, but Scotland lost by eight points in each of them. It seems that no matter how hard the Scots try, they just can’t get within arm’s reach of the All Blacks.

As for their form coming into this one, New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup with another spanking of the Wallabies but lost Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry to South Africa, but Scotland haven’t played since July’s slugfest victory, by a score of 47-28, over Argentina in Cordoba.

Does any of the above matter? Does form or history count for much when 15 men representing their country take on another 15 men doing the same thing?