14 Nov 2014

Scotland stick with same team

5:45 am on 14 November 2014

Scotland coach Vern Cotter has kept faith with the same starting line-up that beat Argentina for their match against the All Blacks at Murrayfield on Sunday morning.

Scotland ran in five tries on their way to a 41-31 victory over Argentina last weekend and Cotter doesn't want to break up his winning side against New Zealand.

Scotland rugby coach Vern Cotter

Scotland rugby coach Vern Cotter Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Cotter says last weekend they had the ball and looked dangerous, and showed great character to keep faith and confidence in their attacking philosophy.

He says they picked themselves up time and time again, and encouraged each other to keep on working for their collective cause.

Cotter has made four changes to Scotland's replacements bench.

Forwards Fraser Brown and Tim Swinson replace Scott Lawson and Jim Hamilton, while Johnnie Beattie and Chris Cusiter come in for Alasdair Strokosch and Henry Pyrgos, who has a hand injury.

New Zealand produced a sterling second-half comeback to beat England 24-21 at Twickenham last weekend, but Cotter believes his side's new-found attacking confidence can expose holes in the All Blacks' defence.

He says Scotland showed last weekend that they're developing an attack than can cause opposition teams problems.

He says if they can force the All Blacks into making errors then they can give themselves a chance.

Scotland: 15-Stuart Hogg, 14-Sean Maitland, 13-Mark Bennett, 12-Alex Dunbar, 11-Tommy Seymour, 10-Finn Russell, 9-Greig Laidlaw (captain), 8-Adam Ashe, 7-Blair Cowan, 6-Rob Harley, 5-Jonny Gray, 4-Richie Gray, 3-Euan Murray, 2-Ross Ford, 1-Alastair Dickinson.

Replacements: 16-Fraser Brown, 17-Gordon Reid, 18-Geoff Cross, 19-Tim Swinson, 20-Johnnie Beattie, 21-Chris Cusiter, 22-Duncan Weir, 23-Sean Lamont.