- Published6 minutes ago
BBC Sport Scotland's Tom English has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions as Scotland prepare to face New Zealand at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Graeme asked: Without our rose-tinted glasses on, what can we expect from Scotland in the Autumn Tests?
Tom answered:A competitive defeat against the All Blacks and wins over Australia and Japan. I wouldn't rule out three out of three nor would I rule out one from three. Trying to predict what this team is going to do is a bit of a mug's game.
Saturday is the big one, obviously. Scotland trailed 17-0 the last time they played the All Blacks and were 14-0 down the time before that. A good start would be useful. New Zealand are building nicely under Dave Rennie and playing some beautiful stuff.
They're also so wily when the heat comes on. That's when Scotland start to make mistakes - over-exuberance at the breakdown, a lineout throw gone awry, a dropped ball at the wrong time. Little things in themselves but a big thing when they're all added together.
Scotland need to play out of their skin and then hold their nerve. It's doable, but so difficult.
Doug asked:First up, congrats to Ollie Blyth-Lafferty and Freddy Douglas for late squad call-ups. However, given Gregor Townsend's initial observations for the exclusion of Douglas due to the coverage of options at seven, what has changed for his inclusion now over Magnus Bradbury given Scotland's lack of ball carriers? Noting Bradbury also can cover six?
Tom answered:He clearly thinks he has enough carriers in his squad already. Plus, you have to draw the conclusion there are things in Bradbury's game he doesn't like. Work-rate? Error count? I think it's harsh.
Bradbury has been good this season apart from the odd blip. Townsend doesn't trust him. It must be a sickener for Bradbury to see Ollie Leatherbarrow in this squad ahead of him.
Huw Jones is one of Scotland's strong options at No.13
Guy asked: Between Rory Hutchinson, Stafford McDowall and Huw Jones, Scotland have three great options at 13. I expect Hutchinson will start on Saturday, but would be happy with any of them. Is this the most high-quality competition Scotland have had for a single jersey in recent years?
Tom answered:Without a doubt, yes. Those three are all outstanding players. Jones, for me, is one of the great Scotland players.
McDowall is a powerhouse athlete with great subtlety in his game. Hutchison is the incumbent and deservedly so. A hugely influential player. The options are terrific. Matt Currie and Ollie Smith are no slouches at 13 as well.
Sam asked:We often talk about Townsend reaching his limit as a coach, but we don't say the same about the players. With uncapped players performing well at Glasgow and Edinburgh, are we not taking enough of a risk to blood new players?
Tom answered:Townsend can't keep blooding new players this close to a World Cup. He's done a fair amount of it over the past year or so - Seb Stephen, Gregor Hiddleston, Liam McConnell, Alex Samuel. Blyth-Lafferty is in the squad now.
Townsend needs to look at every Test between now and the World Cup as an opportunity to claim scalps and gain momentum. The time for experimenting again can wait for after the World Cup under a new coach.
