Scots recall Russell, All Blacks debut for Telea

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Finn Russell has been summoned straight back into Scotland’s starting lineup to play New Zealand at Murrayfield on Sunday just days after being recalled by coach Gregor Townsend.

The gifted flyhalf, who plays his club rugby for Paris-based Racing 92, was controversially left out from the original squad for the Autumn Nations Series and missed the first two Tests in what appeared to be the latest example of a strained relationship between player and coach.

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Adam Hastings, Blair Kinghorn and Ross Thompson were chosen ahead of Russell, with Townsend citing “form and consistency” levels as the key criteria for his selection.

But Russell was called up ahead of the All Blacks clash after Hastings, the son of Scotland great Gavin Hastings, was ruled out through injury following Saturday’s 28-12 win over Fiji.

And the 30-year-old has now leapfrogged Kinghorn, with the Edinburgh back on the bench.

Russell’s inclusion for this weekend’s match means he joins forces with Ali Price as Scotland field the same half-back partnership they deployed in their last meeting against New Zealand — an agonising 22-17 loss at Murrayfield in 2017.

Sione Tuipulotu has been recalled alongside Chris Harris in midfield while Fraser Brown starts at hooker.

Scotland have yet to defeat New Zealand in more than a hundred years of trying, with the All Blacks having won 29 out of 31 fixtures between the two teams.

Scotland — 15 Stuart Hogg; 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price; 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie (c); 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Richie Gray; 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Subs: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 WP Nel, 19 Jonny Gray, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 Ben White, 22 Blair Kinghorn, 23 Mark Bennett.

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Meanwhile, Blues flyer Mark Telea is set to make his New Zealand debut after being named in a rejigged All Blacks lineup.

The 25-year-old Telea – who is half South African, half Samoan – replaces Sevu Reece on the right wing in one of seven changes to the New Zealand side that thrashed Wales 55-23 in Cardiff last week.

David Havili’s inclusion at inside centre has led New Zealand coach Ian Foster to start Jordie Barrett, who wore the No 12 shirt against Wales, at fullback from where his older brother Beauden has been moved to flyhalf.

Richie Mo’unga, New Zealand’s starting No 10 in Cardiff, has been dropped from the matchday 23 completely.

Elswehere in the backs, Scotland-born and raised Finlay Christie starts at scrumhalf in place of Aaron Smith, with Anton Lienert-Brown at outside centre instead of the benched Rieko Ioane.

Up front, Akira Ioane comes in at blindside flanker for Shannon Frizzell, Nepo Laulala takes over from tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax and Samisoni Taukei’aho replaces hooker Codie Taylor.

New Zealand — 15 Jordie Barrett; 14 Mark Telea, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 David Havili, 11 Caleb Clarke; 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie; 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Akira Ioane; 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Samuel Whitelock (c); 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ethan de Groot
Subs: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Stephen Perofeta, 23 Rieko Ioane.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty Images

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Dylan Jack