Stafford McDowall will lead Scotland against the Maori All Blacks Glasgow Warriors centre Stafford McDowall will captain Scotland for their match against the Maori All Blacks, the first on their Pacific tour. McDowall led Scotland in November against Portugal and featured in all five of their Six Nations matches in the absence of the then injured Sione Tuipulotu. His Warriors team-mate George Horne is one of two vice-captains and starts at scrum-half, the other being Bath back-row Josh Bayliss. Horne is the most experienced player in Gregor Townsend's starting 15 with 36 caps, though the match in Whangarei is not an official Test match. Adam Hastings is at fly-half and Northampton Saints centre Rory Hutchinson is outside McDowall having initially been left out of the squad, before an injury to Edinburgh's Matt Currie. Scotland XV: Smith, Paterson, Hutchinson, McDowall (c), Reed, Hastings, Horne; McBeth, Harrison, Richardson, Sykes, Henderson, Bayliss, Onyeama-Christie, Muncaster. Replacements: Turner, Hepburn, Hurd, Williamson, Brown, Masibaka, Burke, Dobie. In the forwards, Glasgow prop Fin Richardson is named in a senior Scotland side for the first time alongside his club team-mate Nathan McBeth, and Edinburgh's Patrick Harrison is at hooker. George Turner will make his Scotland return from the bench, having only recently come back from a spell with the Kobe Steelers in Japan to sign for Harlequins. Uncapped Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke, who was born in New Zealand but qualifies through Scottish grandparents, is also among the replacements as is Montpellier number eight Alexander Masibaka. There is no place in the squad for Darcy Graham, as Sale's Arron Reed and Edinburgh's Harry Paterson start on the wings, with the latter playing for Scotland for the first time in a year. Full-back Ollie Paterson also has not played internationally since the 2023 World Cup and has battled back from a knee injury, while second-row Cameron Henderson and openside flanker Andy Onyeama-Christie are both back from lengthy lay-offs as well. Scotland take on the Maori All Blacks on Saturday (04:35 BST), before facing Fiji in Suva the following week and finishing their tour at Eden Park in Auckland against Samoa on 18 July.
McDowall to lead Scotland against Maori All Blacks
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Stafford McDowall Named Scotland Captain for Match Against Maori All Blacks"
Bbc News
8.6
TruthLens AI Summary
Stafford McDowall has been appointed as the captain of the Scotland rugby team for their upcoming match against the Maori All Blacks, marking the beginning of their Pacific tour. McDowall previously led the Scottish side in a match against Portugal and participated in all five Six Nations games when Sione Tuipulotu was sidelined due to injury. Alongside McDowall, George Horne from the Glasgow Warriors has been named one of the two vice-captains and will start at scrum-half. Horne, the most seasoned player in Gregor Townsend's starting lineup with 36 caps, is joined by other notable players including Adam Hastings at fly-half and Northampton Saints' Rory Hutchinson, who steps in after an injury to Matt Currie from Edinburgh. The match, taking place in Whangarei, is not classified as an official Test match, but it presents an opportunity for the team to showcase their skills against a formidable opponent.
In the forward pack, Glasgow prop Fin Richardson will make his senior debut alongside club teammate Nathan McBeth, while Patrick Harrison of Edinburgh has been selected as the hooker. George Turner is set to make his return to the Scotland team from the bench after a stint with the Kobe Steelers in Japan. The bench also includes uncapped Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke, who qualifies for Scotland through his grandparents, and Montpellier number eight Alexander Masibaka. Notably, Darcy Graham has not been included in the squad, with Arron Reed from Sale and Edinburgh's Harry Paterson starting on the wings. Paterson returns to international play after a year-long absence, while Ollie Paterson also makes his comeback following a knee injury sustained after the 2023 World Cup. Second-row Cameron Henderson and openside flanker Andy Onyeama-Christie are also back from extended injuries. Following the match against the Maori All Blacks, Scotland will face Fiji in Suva and conclude their tour against Samoa at Eden Park in Auckland on July 18.
TruthLens AI Analysis
You need to be a member to generate the AI analysis for this article.
Log In to Generate AnalysisNot a member yet? Register for free.