Scotland v All Blacks latest: Gregor Townsend forced into late change as uncapped forward among four call-ups for New Zealand showdown
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend (right) has made four changes to his squad, with uncapped forward Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (left) among them
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has been forced into a late change to his extended squad to take on the All Blacks, with Elliot Millar Mills and Jamie Ritchie ruled out.
The forward duo were both initially named in Townsend’s 37-man squad last weekend, but sustained injuries while on club duty last weekend. Newcastle Red Bulls prop Millar Mills was taken off just four minutes into his side’s defeat against Saracens with a knee injury, while Glasgow man Ritchie also left the field in the opening exchanges in his side’s win over the Lions with an ankle injury.
The news comes as Scotland prepare for their opening Test of the November window, with Townsend’s side sat second in the Northern Hemisphere pool after two wins from three in July.
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Following the blows, Townsend has moved quickly to reinforce his wider group, with uncapped Edinburgh man Ollie Blyth-Lafferty the headline call. The 20-year-old tighthead has enjoyed a strong start to the new season, just his second at senior level, starting in five of the capital six games in all competitions so far.
He now becomes the second uncapped man in the extended squad, alongside Newcastle back-rower Ollie Leatherbarrow.
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Blyth-Lafferty isn’t the only Edinburgh forward drafted into camp, either, with D’Arcy Rae and Freddy Douglas both getting call-ups and returning to the squad for the first time since the July tour.
Sale Sharks scrum-half Gus Warr will also train with the squad this week, while Josh McKay will also head into camp for rehabilitation as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
Elsewhere, Scotland are as previously advertised heading into the Test against the All Blacks. British and Irish Lions Huw Jones and Blair Kinghorn both return to the set-up after missing the July tour, while the likes of captain Sione Tuipulotu, Darcy Graham, Duhan van der Merwe, Zander Fagerson, Gregor Brown, George Horne, Blair Kinghorn, Ben White and Finn Russell also make the group.
After their clash with the All Blacks, Scotland then face Australia and Japan across the next month, before finishing the November block with a finals weekend Test.
READ MORE: Scotland squad: Uncapped PREM ace named in extended 37-man squad as British and Irish Lions return
