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Scotland will face the All Blacks for the 34th time at Murrayfield, holding a record of zero wins and 31 defeats against New Zealand, with draws in 1964 and 1983. Speaking on the BBC’s Scotland Rugby Podcast, head coach Gregor Townsend reflected on his own playing days against the Kiwis and how the mindset of the Scottish team has evolved since the 1990s.
Shifting Mindset and Upcoming Fixtures
During his playing career, which included heavy defeats such as 62-31 and 69-20, Townsend stated that the team never felt they could actually win against New Zealand. In contrast, during his three matches coaching against the All Blacks in Edinburgh—resulting in narrow defeats of 25-17 in 2025, 31-23 in 2023, and 22-17 in 2017—he believes the belief and opportunities were always present.
The upcoming months feature the culmination of the Nations Championship, Townsend’s final Six Nations campaign, and a World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand in Dunedin. Scotland has not played an away Test against the All Blacks since 2000, when Townsend played in both matches of a two-Test tour. The change in the global calendar now allows Scotland to secure regular summer fixtures against southern hemisphere opponents, which Townsend described as great preparation for the World Cup.
Squad Selections and New Additions
Townsend named his squad for the Nations Championship, handing a first Scotland call-up to Newcastle Red Bulls flanker Ollie Leatherbarrow. The 24-year-old, who has started fewer than 30 league games for Newcastle and Exeter Chiefs, was selected despite starting just one club match this season, while Edinburgh standouts Magnus Bradbury and Freddy Douglas missed out.
Townsend explained that the coaching staff has monitored Leatherbarrow for six months and noted his strong statistics as a ball carrier. Regarding the omissions of Bradbury and Douglas, Townsend stated that the decisions were close, noting that Douglas faced tough competition from established players like vice-captain Rory Darge and Jamie Ritchie.
Enlisting AFL Expertise
To improve their aerial game, Scotland has brought in Fremantle Dockers coach Justin Longmuir from the Australian Football League as a specialist coach. Townsend explained that the connection came about after Kyle Steyn suggested contacting someone from the AFL to help with contesting the high ball, leading to the head coach himself joining the camp.
Townsend noted that the team has already adopted AFL terminology and learned new techniques regarding aerial contests and securing the ball on the ground. Every upcoming match carries enormous significance as the team builds toward the World Cup in Australia.
